Mortgage Headlines, Real Talk: Community Banks, 50-Year Loans & First-Time Buyer Advice with Scott Cole

In this episode of Spilling the Title Tea, Ashley sits down with Scott Cole, Regional Manager of TPO Bank Relationships at Canopy Mortgage, to break down what’s really happening in the mortgage world—without the fluff.

Scott shares his 29-year journey through the industry (including lessons from the subprime era), explains how Canopy helps community banks compete with big-box lenders, and gives clarity on recent hot-button headlines like 50-year mortgages and portable mortgages. They wrap with practical, grounded advice for younger buyers trying to become homeowners in today’s market—especially when affordability and debt ratios are the biggest hurdles.

Highlights

Scott shares a personal intro: 30-year marriage, a son in college, and 29 years in the mortgage industry (plus a roofing company).
How growing up in a family-run car dealership shaped his approach to business and customer service.
Scott’s path from banking and finance into mortgages—and his candid reflections on the subprime mortgage era.
Building and leading mortgage growth in Kentucky: opening branches, mentoring loan officers, and scaling a retail operation.
What “TPO Bank Relationships” means—and how Canopy supports community banks without massive internal mortgage departments.
Why tech matters: how Canopy’s loan origination system simplifies government loans like FHA, VA, and USDA for small banks.
The big reason community banks want these options: keeping customers from walking down the street to larger banks.
Ashley and Scott unpack the 50-year mortgage headline—why it’s being discussed, what problems it’s trying to solve, and why it may not become mainstream.
Portable mortgages explained—and why bond markets, security gaps, and logistics make them unlikely.
Scott’s best first-time buyer advice: save money even if you qualify for zero-down, because homeownership always comes with repairs and surprises.