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Benchmark Happenings

Benchmark Happenings

By: Jonathan Tipton Steve Reed & Christine Reed
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About this listen

Brought to you by, Jonathan Tipton & Steve Reed of Benchmark Home Loans, Benchmark Happenings is a podcast that is a biweekly discussion about living in and moving to Northeast Tennessee along with the local real estate market. Join your host Christine Reed as she interviews Jonathan & Steve, local business owners, sought-after industry experts, Veterans, Realtors, Benchmark clients, and more.

Benchmark Happenings focuses on discussing all things related to mortgages and Northeast Tennessee. Placing the spotlight on all the reasons you would want to live in and move to Northeast Tennessee, Benchmark Happenings highlights upcoming events, local businesses, things to do, and other aspects related to Northeast Tennessee. We will also be answering mortgage questions from buyers, sellers, and real estate agents as well as discussing everything going on in our local real estate market.

To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.tiptonreedteam.com.

Benchmark Home Loans | NMLS # 2143

4138 Bristol Highway

Johnson City, TN 37601

Jonathan Tipton

Senior Mortgage Planner

NMLS # 1188088

jonathan.tipton@benchmark.us

Steve Reed

Branch Manager

NMLS # 173024

steve.reed@benchmark.us

© 2026 The Tipton Reed Mortgage Team - Benchmark Home Loans
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Episodes
  • From Boutique IT To Big Impact: How Pointech Solves Real Business Problems
    Feb 4 2026

    Ready to rethink what “IT support” means? We bring back entrepreneur and Pointech founder Austin Ramsey for a candid, high-energy conversation about turning technology into real business outcomes. Austin shares how a boutique, strategy-first model beats the old sales playbook by starting with listening, mapping how revenue moves, and designing systems that deliver peace of mind. The stories land close to home: a chance furniture pickup reveals a failing phone system that’s bleeding revenue; a next-day temporary fix and a thoughtful rebuild turn chaos into reliability and long-term growth.

    We dig into Austin’s evolution from solo founder to project leader and partner, including a behind-the-scenes look at a 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art surgery center where he served as lead project manager for connectivity and infrastructure. From owner items and compliance to vendor coordination, he explains how large builds succeed when someone owns the details and protects the timeline. Along the way, he breaks down his signature mindset: crush the box to remove limits, then think beyond big to keep momentum after milestones. That approach creates intrapreneurs—team members who innovate from within—and aligns IT with the business instead of the ticket queue.

    AI threads through everything we cover: using tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to accelerate writing, design, and problem-solving without outsourcing judgment. Austin shows where AI saves hours, where it can mislead, and how to balance speed with verification. If you care about practical technology strategy, operational calm, and a smarter way to scale, this conversation is your playbook for 2026.

    Subscribe for future episodes, share this with a friend who leads a growing team, and leave a quick review to help more people find the show. Got a question or a story about tech saving (or sinking) your day? Send it our way and join the conversation.

    To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.

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    30 mins
  • Inside Land2Homes: Affordable Quality For Northeast Tennessee Buyers
    Jan 21 2026

    Buyers keep asking how we’re moving homes so quickly without cutting corners. The short answer: relentless standards, a smarter mortgage strategy, and a system that keeps 13 projects on track without the chaos that sinks timelines and budgets. We open up about our first full year at Land2Homes and what it takes to deliver turnkey manufactured homes that feel great on day one—and still pencil out.

    We walk through the real levers of affordability in the Tri‑Cities: pairing quality manufactured homes with below‑market mortgage rates so the monthly payment rivals older inventory. You’ll hear how we decide when a home is truly ready to list, why we’ll delay a week to fix trim or stabilize stepping stones, and how that patience pays off with faster sales and happier buyers. We also share the unglamorous parts, like mowing sites ourselves or troubleshooting underpinning delays, because those choices protect the final product and keep carrying costs in check.

    Land remains the bottleneck, so we spell out exactly what works: unrestricted parcels or those that allow manufactured homes, water at the road, power nearby, manageable terrain, road frontage if subdividing, and no flood zone surprises. For agents and landowners, we explain how we buy, subdivide, and partner—paying full commissions and relisting with you when appropriate. And for buyers, we talk about why today’s manufactured homes are a different breed: tighter fit and finish, thoughtful layouts, and a true turnkey handoff that includes landscaping and the details most people overlook.

    We’re still learning, still traveling to industry conferences, and still refining a task‑driven workflow that reduces errors, speeds schedules, and saves money without adding headcount. If you care about attainable housing in Northeast Tennessee and want a candid look at how quality meets cost, press play. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone hunting for land or a first home in the Tri‑Cities.

    To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.

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    22 mins
  • Inside Prime MD Aesthetics: Safe Injectables, Smarter Skincare, And Realistic Results
    Jan 8 2026

    Ready for a fresh start that actually feels like you? We sat down with Prime MD Aesthetics in downtown Johnson City to demystify modern, nurse-led beauty care—no scare tactics, no overdone looks, just smart planning and results you can live in. From GLP-1 weight loss support to microneedling, neuromodulators, fillers, and collagen stimulators, we walk through what each tool does, who it helps most, and how to stack treatments with skincare for real, lasting change.

    We dig into the art and science of natural results: addressing the whole face instead of spot treating, respecting muscle balance, and choosing the right modality for each concern. You’ll hear how genetics can drive early lines, why medical-grade skincare multiplies your outcomes, and how collagen strategies like microneedling and Sculptra differ from volume-focused fillers. We also talk downtime, pain control, and recovery boosters like PDGF, plus where laser shines for pigment and texture. If you’re navigating Botox vs Dysport, curious about semaglutide or tirzepatide, or overwhelmed by product aisles, this conversation brings clarity.

    You’ll also get practical details: the Johnson City location opened in January 2024 with a modern, elevated space, free weight-loss consultations this month, and 15% off for new clients. Booking is simple—online, by phone, or through Instagram—and the team’s nurse practitioner shares a patient-first consult process built on listening, education, and budget-aware planning. If your goal is to look rested, brighter, and confidently yourself, this is your guide to doing it safely and thoughtfully.

    If you enjoyed this conversation, follow and share the show with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find it. Subscribe for more local stories, expert insights, and practical tips to make Northeast Tennessee living even better.

    To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.

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    24 mins
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