# 361: Agent Vendor Relationships

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hustle-humbly-podcast-250694/361-agent-vendor-relationships
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hustle-humbly-podcast-250694/361-agent-vendor-relationships.md
Podcast: [Hustle Humbly Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/hustle-humbly-podcast-250694)
Published: 2026-07-06T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://hustlehumblypodcast.libsyn.com/361-agent-vendor-relationships
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/hustlehumblypodcast/361-Podcast.mp4?dest-id=1422326
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/hustle-humbly-podcast-250694/episodes/361-agent-vendor-relationships
Duration seconds: 2964

## Resource

Has a lender ever given you the full court press and you weren't sure how to say no? Or maybe you've wondered why your vendor partners aren't sending you more leads? This episode is going to give you a lot to think about. We've been getting messages from agents on both ends of this spectrum — some wanting to know how to get lenders to back off, and others wanting to know how to find a lender who will send them referrals. So we decided it was time to address both, and we're not holding back. We start by going back to basics with a law you may have heard of but probably don't know as well as you think: RESPA, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. It has been around since 1975, and it is still federal law, and it still applies to you and every vendor relationship you have. Then we get into the real conversation — mindset, professionalism, how to say no gracefully, and why expecting leads from your vendors is a trap that will make you miserable. Here's what we cover in this episode: - What RESPA actually is and what it prohibits (spoiler: a lot of what you see happening in the industry) - The history of RESPA, Dodd-Frank, and the CFPB and why these rules exist - Why "things of value" from vendors — including gift cards, event tickets, and subsidized marketing — are considered illegal kickbacks - What co-marketing with a lender is allowed to look like vs. what crosses the line - Why lenders get more aggressive when the market slows and how to handle it with kindness - How to professionally say no when a vendor won't stop pursuing you - Why you should never choose your lender based on what they can do for you - The mindset shift you need to stop expecting referrals from your vendor partners - How to add vendors to your database and treat them like people, not a lead sou…

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## Transcript

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