Episode 1 Pivot

In our first official episode of Port City Living: Escrows & Egos, we’re spilling the tea on one of the biggest buyer mistakes—skipping pre-approval. There’s a world of difference between being “qualified” and actually being “approved,” and trust us, your dream home doesn’t care about your “qualifications.”

We’ll also dish on why working with a local lender can save your deal (and your sanity), while those flashy internet lenders might leave you ghosted at the closing table. Approval isn’t just paperwork—it’s power. If you want to shop smart, avoid heartbreak, and start strong, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

Do I Need Your Approval?

Keep It Status Quo
In this episode of Port City Living: Escrows & Egos, Brad and I break down one of the most important (and most overlooked) parts of getting a mortgage: keeping your financial picture exactly the same.

Once you’re under contract, your lender is watching your credit, your income, and your debt-to-income ratio closely. That means:

🚫 No new cars.

🚫 No new appliances.

🚫 No “big splurge” purchases.

🚫 Honestly? Don’t buy anything major until the deal closes.

We share real-world stories of how one wrong move can derail your closing — and how staying patient and “boring” for a few weeks can make all the difference.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned mover, this is advice you’ll want to remember before you swipe that card.

Keep It Status Quo

Why isn’t your home selling? In this episode of Escrows & Egos, we’re pulling back the curtain on the three biggest reasons a property might be sitting on the market: location, condition, and price. Billy and Brad break down how each factor impacts buyer perception, why wishful thinking doesn’t move a listing, and what you can realistically do to reposition your home for success. Whether you’re a seller frustrated by crickets or an agent trying to guide your clients, this straight-talk episode will help you understand what’s really going on when a home just isn’t moving.

Why is My Home Not Selling?

In this episode of Port City Living: Escrows and Egos, we dive into the changing culture of showing feedback. Once a common courtesy, feedback has become almost nonexistent — with many agents not even offering a simple “thank you” after a showing.

We talk about why this shift matters, how feedback can be both helpful and harmful, and why professional courtesy is still one of the most important tools in our business. Whether you’re a buyer’s agent giving it or a listing agent hoping for it, feedback can shape the transaction — and your reputation.

Feedback Feedback

Port City Living - The podcast about living in Wilmington, NC and the surrounding area.  I am Bill Corbett, local real estate agent, along with Brad Brown, Mortgage Lender.  We are natives of the area, and we are excited to share with you all that Wilmington, NC has to offer. We will talk about beach life, food, arts and culture, and so much more.  We may even sprinkle in some information about the real estate market and what's going on in the lending world.  But don't worry we are keeping it light and fun.  So, join us for some laughs, fun facts and awesome information as we bring you Port City Living.
Also check out my YouTube channel also called Port City Living: https://www.youtube.com/portcitylivingnc