023: Predictions for the Current Housing Market + Raising Financially-Smart Kids with Jonathan "JJ" Jerotz and Tim Sheehan

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Jonathan “JJ” Jerotz, the Area Manager and Vice President of Retail Sales for Synergy One Lending, a National Mortgage Bank, and Tim Sheehan, Co-Founder and CEO of Greenlight, the debit card and money app that allows parents to teach their kids how to be financially responsible.

According to the Financial Literacy Month survey, 73% of teens would like to have more financial education. 3/4 kids don't feel very confident or knowledgeable about personal finance, but my first guest, Tim Sheehan, CEO and Co-Founder of Greenlight, shares how his company is looking to change that by shining a light on the world of money for kids and parents. Tim discusses the importance of teaching kids about personal finance, how parents can provide the tools and resources to manage their kids’ money, and how Greenlight is different from a traditional debit card.

Many of us know that the real estate market is pretty crazy right now. Home sale prices seem to continue to rise exponentially, fueled by low inventory as well as low mortgage rates. My second guest, Jonathan “JJ" Jerotz, from Synergy One Lending walks us through what’s currently happening with the real estate market and loan rates, what’s on the horizon, and what this all means to us going forward. JJ also shares why home prices continue to surge and explains the best way to get prepared for financing or refinancing a new home.

Jonathan JJ Jerotz believes that educating his clients so they understand the process of mortgage lending is very important. If he can provide the tools for them to understand the process, they will be properly informed and able to take that knowledge with them and apply it in the future as well.

JJ's goal is to see each customer through the loan process with good communication throughout the entire process from application to funding. With his expert team in place, his clients are always in good hands and always have someone to answer their questions.

He has a vast knowledge and understanding of all loan programs from FHA, VA, Conventional and Jumbo Loans, to what is called Non-Prime loans such as our Non-Qualified Mortgage Programs, low doc loans, and portfolio mortgage programs.

JJ strives to find the best mortgage solution for his clients. As everyone’s past, present, and future is going to be different, he implements a mortgage strategy that fits the needs of each individual person, couple, or family that will be good for today and tomorrow.

He is the host of “The JJ Show” on 1170am The Answer, Thursday’s at 7pm, and has been heard on 1700AM ESPN and 760 KFMB, (Sunday’s at Noon) as a Co-Host to the Mr. Credit Radio show since 2011. JJ has also been seen on Cox Cable and Time Warner Channel 4 on The American Dream, Saturday’s at 10:00am hosting.

Synergy One Lending is approved to lend in 48 states and provides among the broadest set of mortgage options of any company today. Whether you are a millennial, baby boomer, or luxury home buyer, Synergy One stands out because of their relentless pursuit of excellence in their people, process, and client experience.

Tim Sheehan is the Co-Founder & CEO of Greenlight, the debit card and money app for families that helps raise financially-smart kids and encourage real-world lessons in financial responsibility.

He has always worked at the edge of technology and finance. Early on he ran product development and ultimately co-led Yahoo! Finance, the award-winning consumer site for financial information.

Following that stint, Tim was tapped to be SVP and General Manager at Yodlee, the financial account aggregation engine that partnered with most leading financial institutions in the early 2000’s.

Later on, Tim served as SVP of Products, Marketing, and Strategy for Fiserv, the institutional financial services conglomerate, for their Biller Solutions Group.

But, he had the entrepreneurial bug from the get-go. In 2005, he co-founded Attributor, an online technology for protecting content owners from digital piracy, and served the company as VP Products until its successful acquisition by Digimarc.

Then, he started a company aimed at helping sales professionals network their way into connecting with sales prospects. That company, Reachable, now has a social graph in excess of 100 billion connections.

After being entrepreneur-in-residence at Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center for all of a month, Tim co-founded Greenlight.