In Search of Excellence, Island Style

About In Search of Excellence, Island Style

In Search of Excellence, Island Style™ is a podcast about leadership, values, discipline, and what it really takes to build something meaningful that lasts. Powered by The Broker Mortgage Experts, this show features conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, creators, and difference makers who are raising the standard, not just in what they achieve, but in how they lead. Here, excellence is not loud. It is consistent. It is relational. It is built on values. It is lived with aloha. Each episode explores the principles behind real performance, decisiveness, discipline, culture, integrity, and resilience under pressure, with insights that apply to business, family, community, and everyday life. If you care about leadership, legacy, and building with purpose, this podcast is for you. This is In Search of Excellence, Island Style™. Let's raise the standard.

Publisher

Larry Gonzales

Category

business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Apr 2026

Latest episode

16 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

20 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Sept 2026

   Congress Could Make VA Loans More Expensive—Here's What Veterans Need to Know

   In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with fellow mortgage professionals Michael Melso and Daniel Sepulveda of The Broker Mortgage Experts to discuss proposed changes to VA funding fees and why they believe those changes could have unintended consequences for active-duty service members and veterans. The conversation focuses on H.R. 6047, which the episode describes as increasing the VA funding fee on certain refinances from 0.5% to 1.42% and on assumptions from 0.5% to 1%. Larry illustrates the potential impact with a $1 million loan, where the funding fee discussed would increase from approximately $5,000 to $14,200. The group also explains how rolling that fee into the loan could affect equity and make meeting VA refinance recoupment requirements more difficult. The second half turns to the Oʻahu housing market, where the group discusses rising single-family home prices, a much flatter condo market, elevated inventory, HOA and maintenance costs, seller credits, and why buyers need to look beyond purchase price when comparing properties. They also emphasize budgeting, planning for future PCS or resale decisions, and working with professionals who understand Hawaiʻi's unique market. Guests Michael Melso Mortgage Broker | The Broker NMLS #2318932 Instagram/Facebook: @mikethebrokerusmc Daniel Sepulveda Mortgage Broker | The Broker NMLS #2449504 Instagram: @_dansepulveda Facebook: DanSepulvedaSeniorLoanOfficer Host: Larry Gonzales Branch Leader Loan Advisor Broker Mortgage Experts Timestamp Highlights 00:00 Housing Resolution Concerns 02:15 Who Pays the Price 03:49 Audit the Books First 06:11 Refinance Rules Explained 09:08 Inflation Squeeze Reality 11:46 Ripple Effects and Risk 14:37 Hawaii Home Price Reality 18:17 Condo Market and HOA Shock 22:04 How to Fight the Bill 25:43 Oahu Market Update Begins 27:23 Market Cooldown Ahead 28:07 Why Single Family Wins 29:52 Seller Credits Strategy 31:59 Condo Market Reality Check 32:41 Two Seller Types Explained 33:46 Comps And Exit Plan 35:07 Roommate Friendly Picks 36:06 Palm Court Case Study 38:49 BAH Budget Playbook 42:49 Ask Better Questions 45:24 Avoid Preapproval Traps 50:34 Workshops And Wrap Up 🎧 Watch or Listen Now Whether you're active duty, a veteran, considering a VA refinance, or thinking about buying a home in Hawaiʻi, this episode highlights questions worth asking before making your next move. Subscribe to In Search of Excellence: Island Style for more conversations about VA home loans, Hawaiʻi real estate, financial literacy, military life, and building long-term wealth.

2. 

   2 Sept 2026

   Can Locals Still Afford to Buy a Home in Hawaiʻi?

   In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with Jewel Henderson-DeGerald and Michel Arakaki of Real Broker / Team MJ for a conversation about helping local Hawaiʻi families believe homeownership is possible. Jewel and Michel share how their backgrounds in education, counseling, and relationship-building shaped the way they serve clients today. Rather than simply helping someone buy or sell a property, they focus on education, communication, and creating what they call the "MJ Experience" personalizing the homebuying journey, celebrating milestones, and helping clients feel supported through every stage of escrow. The conversation also gets into the difficult side of real estate: condo insurance delays, termite issues, liens, trust and probate sales, and family members who may not agree on what to do with an inherited property. Jewel and Michel explain why listening, remaining neutral, and communicating clearly can be just as important as negotiating the transaction. They also share practical advice for first-time homebuyers, including managing expectations, considering different parts of Oʻahu, taking advantage of available programs, and understanding that your first home does not have to be your forever home. Both women close by sharing their own homeownership journeys and the legacy they hope to build for their children. Guests Jewel Henderson-DeGerald Real Broker | Team MJ REALTOR License: RS-81560 Instagram: @jewel_oahu_real_estate_agent Team: @teammjhawaii Michel Arakaki Real Broker | Team MJ REALTOR License: RS-81556 Instagram: @michelarakaki_hawaii Team: @teammjhawaii Timestamp Highlights 00:00 Meet Team MJ 00:27 Jewel's Story 01:47 Michel's Roots 03:06 Parenthood Talk 05:04 Locals Buying Homes 06:58 The MJ Experience 08:45 Escrow Stress Tips 12:51 Break and Subscribe 13:19 Deals Falling Apart 16:05 Trust Sales and Liens 19:39 Family Dynamics Mediation 24:54 Realtor Style and Fit 25:37 Relationships Win Deals 27:25 Credits and Rate Buydowns 28:22 First Time Buyer Playbook 30:27 Programs and Timing Matters 32:13 Prices Rates and Equity 32:53 Leeward Side Mindset Shift 36:07 Their Homeownership Journeys 41:05 Legacy and Work Ethic 44:13 Gifts Thanks and Wrap Up Listen & Watch 🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IyA6dqPOR2w 🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-locals-still-afford-to-buy-a-home-in-hawai%CA%BBi/id1891237091?i=1000787541738 Subscribe to In Search of Excellence: Island Style for more conversations about Hawaiʻi real estate, financial literacy, homeownership, leadership, and building long-term wealth. If this episode helped you see homeownership differently, share it with a first-time buyer, local family, young adult, REALTOR®, or anyone wondering whether buying a home in Hawaiʻi is possible.

3. 

   19 Aug 2026

   Buying a Home? Beware of These Real Estate Scams & Costly Mistakes

   Buying a Home? Beware of These Real Estate Scams & Costly Mistakes In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with longtime friend Maggie Marcelli, Assistant Vice President at Title Guaranty, for an important conversation about what Hawaiʻi homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals need to know before getting to the closing table. Maggie shares what Title Guaranty is seeing in today's Hawaiʻi real estate market, including condo transactions falling out of escrow because of rising HOA fees, insurance costs, special assessments, and buyers reconsidering properties after inspections. Larry and Maggie explain why buyers shouldn't automatically be scared away by repairs, why a home inspection matters—even with new construction—and why having an experienced REALTOR®, lender, and escrow team can make the difference when problems arise. They also explore assumable mortgages and why a low interest rate doesn't automatically make an assumption the best financial decision. Buyers need to consider the cash required to cover the equity gap and the opportunity cost of tying up those funds. The conversation then turns to one of the most important topics of the episode: title fraud and wire fraud. Maggie explains the difference between escrow and title insurance and shares real cases involving attempted fraud—including a cash buyer whose more than $500,000 was intercepted after fraudulent wiring instructions appeared to come from the escrow officer. The episode closes with additional scams homeowners may encounter after closing and an invitation for Hawaiʻi real estate professionals to connect at The Pitch, held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Guest Maggie Marcelli Assistant Vice President | Title Guaranty Title & Escrow Instagram: @tg_escrow_kapolei Email: maggie.marcelli@tghawaii.com Timestamp Highlights 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:58 Maggie's Background and Hawaii Move 02:43 Proxy Marriage and Chef Husband 05:08 COVID Notary Hustle 07:28 Market Shifts and Condo Cancellations 10:57 Repairs, Inspections, and Negotiation 16:00 Rates, Education, and Assumable Loans 27:01 Assistant VP Role and Kapolei Branch 28:44 From USAA to Title Guaranty Leadership 32:31 Career Breakthroughs 33:48 Relationships Over Transactions 36:17 Helping Buyers and Sellers 38:26 Right Way to Buy 43:09 Golden Rule Mindset 43:59 Title and Escrow Explained 48:47 Title Fraud Red Flags 50:49 Wire Fraud Horror Stories 57:45 Scams After Closing 01:00:35 The Pitch Taco Tuesday 01:05:39 Final Thanks and Wrap Subscribe to In Search of Excellence: Island Style on YouTube and follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for more conversations about Hawaiʻi real estate, mortgage strategies, financial literacy, military life, leadership, and building long-term wealth. If this episode helped you better understand title insurance, escrow, wire fraud, assumable loans, or the home-buying process, share it with a homebuyer, homeowner, veteran, military family, REALTOR®, or anyone preparing to buy or sell a home in Hawaiʻi. And if you're thinking about buying a home in Hawaiʻi or using your VA home loan benefit, connect with Larry and The Broker Mortgage Experts to create a strategy that fits your goals. 🌐 www.larrythelo.com

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.