Benchmark Happenings
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
Episodes
76 episodes
Steve Darden Explains Why He Is Running To Serve A Busy Tennessee Court
A courtroom can’t pause when life gets messy, and in Northeast Tennessee, the volume is only climbing. We’re joined by longtime attorney, Rule 31 mediator, and judge candidate Steve Darden for a frank look at what general sessions court really ...
Find Your Sparkle Again
Style isn’t shallow when it helps you show up with confidence. We’re joined by Lindsey Lawson, founder of Brilliantly Bespoke in the Tri-Cities of Northeast Tennessee, for a grounded conversation about color analysis, personal style, and the re...
Running For Governor On Faith
A bill that could make it harder to sue the government over constitutionality. A budget that grows fast while everyday people feel ignored. A state capital that starts acting like it runs the counties instead of serving them. That’s the backdro...
Young Courage In County Politics
A burst of courage can change a county. We sit down with Lakie Derrick, a 23-year-old Sullivan County Commission candidate who connects every stance to a biblical worldview, and trace how a sixth-grade conviction grew into campus leadership, a ...
How To Prevent Dementia, Ditch Overmedication, And Feel Strong At Any Age
What if getting older didn’t have to mean getting weaker, foggier, and overmedicated? We sit down with Dr. Tom Rogers of Performance Medicine to rethink aging from the ground up—focusing on prevention, strength, and clarity rather than quick pr...
From Journals To Bestseller: How Jenny Rogers Built A Book, A Community, And A Movement Of Wonder
What if the year ahead is inviting you into something that feels exactly you? We sit down with author and coach Jenny Rogers to trace how a stack of journals, a stubborn curiosity, and a humble ladybug grew into Mama Bear Meditations: Curious—a...
From Boutique IT To Big Impact: How Pointech Solves Real Business Problems
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 mo...
Inside Land2Homes: Affordable Quality For Northeast Tennessee Buyers
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. ...
Inside Prime MD Aesthetics: Safe Injectables, Smarter Skincare, And Realistic Results
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....
Unconditional Care For Women In Johnson City
A warm smile at the door. A clear answer when everything feels blurry. That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Kacey Buchanan as we spotlight Agape Women’s Services in Johnson City—an oasis of free, judgment-free care for women and famili...
Why A 50-Year Mortgage Saves Pennies Now But Costs A Fortune Later
A 50-year mortgage sounds like the shortcut to affordability, but does it really help—or just push the bill into the future? We put the buzz to the test with clear numbers on payments, total interest, and equity growth, then map out practical a...
How Isaiah 117 House Turns Trauma Into Care On Day One
The hardest day of foster care shouldn’t start on a linoleum floor. When a child is removed from home, the first hours shape everything—what they feel, what they fear, and whether they sense anyone is on their side. We sit down with Isaiah 117 ...
How A Former California Agent Discovered Turnkey Manufactured Living And Closed Early With Benchmark
A cross‑country move doesn’t have to be chaotic. Pat, a seasoned California real estate pro, shares how she found her pace, her people, and her perfect view in Northeast Tennessee—plus the surprising role a modern manufactured home played in ma...
Rates, Confidence, And The 2026 Housing Outlook
Mortgage headlines are loud, but the real story is quieter: confidence. We dig into why builder confidence is rising while buyer confidence stalls, how the Fed’s long “sugar high” of quantitative easing set us up for today’s rates, and what a s...
Affordable Housing Solutions in Northeast Tennessee
The affordable housing crisis looms large across America, but innovative solutions are emerging right here in Northeast Tennessee. Jonathan Tipton and Steve Reed, mortgage professionals at Benchmark Home Loans, have launched Land to Homes—a gro...
Remembering Charlie Kirk: A Legacy of Faith and Freedom
A somber yet inspiring tribute to Charlie Kirk fills our latest episode as we reflect on the shocking loss of a Christian leader whose impact reached far beyond political spheres. Charlie's assassination on September 10th—what many are calling ...
The Art of Color: Elevating Your Natural Beauty
Discovering your authentic style isn't just about looking good—it's about reconnecting with your natural beauty and finding confidence that radiates from within. In this enlightening conversation, Christine Reed welcomes Shelli Holechek, owner ...
From Passion to Profession: Suzanne McKinney's Jewelry Journey
What happens when creative passion meets entrepreneurial spirit? Suzanne McKinney's journey with Beauty in Stone Jewelry provides a masterclass in turning artistic talent into a thriving business.Suzanne believes jewelry is the essentia...
Behind the Lens: Tina Wilson's Journey from Photographer to Business Maven
Ever wonder what happens when you release your white-knuckle grip on what seems "too good to let go"? Tina Wilson's remarkable journey from portrait photographer to business maven reveals the surprising gifts that come from open hands and divin...
Beyond The Hype: A Professional's Guide To Skincare That Actually Works
The quest for healthier, more youthful skin can be overwhelming with contradictory advice and miracle promises flooding social media. Kelli Rogers from Performance Medicine cuts through the noise in this enlightening conversation about what tru...
From Renting to Owning: How Land to Homes Makes It Possible
Looking for an affordable path to homeownership in today's challenging market? Steve Reed returns to Benchmark Happenings to dive deeper into Land to Homes, a pioneering solution for would-be homeowners struggling with sky-high housing costs an...
Land2Homes: Creating Affordable Housing Solutions in Northeast Tennessee
Steve Reed, Co-owner of Benchmark Home Loans, shares the story behind his new venture Land2Homes, which provides affordable turnkey manufactured housing solutions for buyers priced out of the traditional market.• Land2Homes developed af...
A Trip of a Lifetime: How the Honor Flight Program Changes Veterans' Lives
Freedom isn't free—a truth Michelle Stewart and the Honor Flight program understand deeply. As president of Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands, Michelle has dedicated herself to giving veterans the recognition they earned through their s...
What Makes Every Woman's Beauty Uniquely Worth Celebrating?
What does it take to transform a childhood passion into a thriving beauty business? Shamail McKenzie's journey from practicing on Barbie styling heads to becoming an award-winning hair and makeup artist reveals the perfect blend of artistic tal...
Beyond the Gavel: A Judge's Mission to Transform Lives
Judge Jim Goodwin lifts the veil on what recovery courts really are—not programs for first-time offenders as commonly misunderstood, but rather the last line of defense before long-term incarceration for those caught in addiction's grip. As Cri...