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2 0 2 5 F I V E S T A R C O N F E R E N C E & E X P O MortgagePoint ยป Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 44 Real Estate Investment Forum (REIF) assembled the leading minds across the SFR, REO, and BTR spaces to dive deep into the opportunities and challenges shaping today's real estate landscape. Presented by Lead Sponsor Gen- stone Field Services, with Partners Black Dome Services, Rent to Retirement, Seek Now Inc., and Ternus Lending, REIF got underway with a Fireside Chat between Ed Fay, CEO of The Fay Group, and Bryan Lysikowski, President, Prop- erty Services Division with Fay Group/ Genstone. The duo shared their insight into the investment landscape, capital trends, and asset class shifts. With the Fireside Chat setting the tone, it was time for the "Seizing the Shift: 5 Proven Tactics to Source, Acquire & Scale SFR Portfolios" panel. A panel featuring Barry Owens, Chief Strategy Officer with Black Dome Services; Bran- don O'Briant, EVP with AssetVal; Zach Lemaster, CEO of Rent To Retirement; Charles Tassell, State Director, Rural Development, Ohio with the USDA; and Sanket Kumar, CEO and Co-Founder of Honeycomb, broke down some tips and strategies behind today's top-performing portfolios. This was followed up by the "Cre- ative Capital: Lending Strategies That Unlock More Deals" discussion, an op- portunity when panelists detailed some nontraditional solutions to implement to fund future deals in an uncertain rate environment. Panelists for this session included Tim Herriage, CEO of Ternus; Caroline Gim, REO Broker with Expert Real Estate & Investment; Mark Burch, BDM with Temple View Capital; Robert Jayne, Head of Originations, Construc- tion Lending with Kiavi; and Samer Kuraishi, President and Founder of The ONE Street Company and ONE Street Commercial Properties. Next up, the "Scaling from 10-100 Doors: Tech, Teams, and Tough Les- sons" panel took a full dive into what it really takes to scale. A panel featuring Sebastian Stofenmacher, Broker with Edgestone Real Estate; Rochelle Jones, Broker Owner with Aplomb Real Estate; Norris Bishop, Broker with Norris Bishop Realty; Trish Beeman, Regional VP-Atlanta with Fay Servicing; and John Watt, VP, REI Program Manager with Unitas Financial Services explained how to overcome growth hurdles, chose tech solutions wisely, and build teams that deliver while scaling operations. Next up, a panel featuring Paul Boudier, Agent with Keller Williams; Melanie French, CEO with RR Living; Ben Turner, Partner and Co-Founder with Invest With Roots; Bryan Jenkins, President of Property Management with Fay Group/Genstone; and DD Garzon, Co-Founder of PM Business Implemen- tors and President-Elect of NARPM with Skyline Properties Group presented "Unlocking Hidden Profits: Revenue Plays You're Probably Missing." The group shared some secrets to unlock additional revenue, breaking down untapped monetization opportunities for operators ready to think beyond rent checks. The final session of the day, "Five Essential Strategies for SFR & BTR Success: Source, Rehab, Manage, Exit," walked attendees through the steps that top SFR and BTR operators use to take their business to the next level. Sharing their thoughts and expertise with attendees was the panel of Zach Bassett, COO of Property Masters Inc.; Ren Richards, Senior Director of Strategy with Seek Now; Eric Delgado, Director of MCM Capital; Tauheed Siddiqui, CEO of TAAS Investments LLC; and Dan Brady, VP Acquisitions/Disposi- tions with ILE Homes. Tuesday afternoon also featured "The Mortgage Servicing Forum," a gathering of leaders from across the servicing ecosystem discussing the most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities currently shaping the industry. Presented by Advantage Foreclo- sure, Aspen Grove, Global Strategic, and National General Lender Services, the Forum featured a diverse slate of speakers, including servicing executives, GSE and government officials, legal and compliance experts, economists, and technology providers. This forum offered insights into regulatory trends, borrower engagement, portfolio man- agement, and the future of servicing operations. The "Market Pulse: Economic Trends and Servicing Outlook" got the Mortgage Servicing Forum underway with an expert-driven look at the state of the housing and mortgage markets. A panel featuring John Comeau, Policy Economist with the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks; Shawn Miller, Head of Business Development with Xome; Brandon Latman, SVP, Head of Default Servicing with Mr. Cooper; Candace Russell, VP, Post Sales Activities with Carrington Mortgage Services; and Daren Blomquist, VP of Market Eco- nomics with Auction.com examined key economic indicators, policy develop- ments, and market headwinds, from interest rate volatility to housing supply constraints. The panel entertained questions and broke down what today's market data is telling us, and what it could mean for mortgage servicers in the months ahead. The Forum's second session, "GSE Perspectives: Insights From Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac" featured the trio of Cristi Richey, VP, Servicing Business Account Management with Fannie Mae; Ben Gottheim, VP, Policy and SQA with Freddie Mac; and Marcel Bryar, Managing Director for Mortgage Policy Advisors LLC sharing the latest updates on servicing policies and initiatives de- signed to support U.S. homeowners. In today's rapidly evolving market, aligning with GSE priorities is more important than ever for servicing professionals. Throughout the session, panelists explained how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are navigating current challenges, driving innovation, and working with servicers to strengthen housing stability. And as mortgage servicers navigate a shifting regulatory landscape, deal with rising costs, and adapt to evolving borrow- er expectations, the ability to adjust and improve business efficiencies has never been more critical. The final panel of the day, "Layering in Business Efficiencies," brought together seasoned industry executives who explored how organiza- tions are streamlining operations and optimizing workflows without compro-