“Captain Video” was a popular science-fiction TV show in the early 1950s.  Today, Drew Huggins is a modern Captain Video of sorts through his weekly Economic Update that’s science-fact, driven by data.

Its name says what it is. “It’s a video updating where the market is, specifically the mortgage and real estate markets,” says Drew, Sales Manager for Thrive Mortgage, a national loan company that has a local base in downtown Dayton.  In the video he talks about what he’s learned through researching various sources, including the Mortgage Bankers Association, and uses data to forecast the economy.

Economic Update is posted at 7 a.m. every Thursday on Drew’s professional Facebook page, Drew Huggins Thrive Mortgage, and is never longer than three minutes.  In the year his video messages began, “they’re getting some pretty good traction and good feedback.  Several agents I know share it with other real estate agents and their clients.”

Drew adds that when he’s out and about, “I get a lot of people who I wouldn’t necessarily expect are watching it. They say, ‘Hey, I saw your video, and you made a great point on where the market is going.’  It’s helpful that people are getting something out of it.

“I don’t see a lot of people consistently doing videos, especially mortgage officers. Across the country, yes, but not locally, and not with consistent outreach.”

What led to Drew going video?  “It’s been something my business coach has been pushing me to do for some time.  Video is an attainable way to reach clients.  I started it for a while but dropped away.  Then I realized how easy it is to do,” and ramped up production.  It’s been a fixture nearly every Thursday since. He dispels a common misconception. “My rule is: I don’t edit them and I don’t rewatch them.  If I were to rewatch them, I would hate them and re-record them.  I put them out there and that’s it.”

His video stardom has led to another visual opportunity.  He’ll have segments – one upcoming in March – on American Dream, a nationally syndicated TV show on Bloomberg TV and CNBC, and later on a streaming service. “American Dream reached out to me through a local real estate agent.  I met with the producers virtually. They vetted me. I started in December, with the first segment airing Jan. 28.  I’ll have one every other month.”

His first segment was about the Fireblocks District – the restaurants, shops, and apartments on Third Street between Jefferson and Sinclair streets. Drew interviewed a few business owners he knows there.

American Dream provides the video crew. Drew said he develops the content and does the interviews. The video goes to American Dream producers for editing.  It’s later made available to Drew for his use.

“In American Dream I present myself as a host, not a mortgage person. It’s mostly REALTORs® who do other American Dream segments.”  He said the producers want the segments to be 20 percent about real estate and 80 percent about the community.  “Mine is all community,” he said. The March segment will focus on the Dayton Arcade and its impact on entrepreneurship and community involvement.

Getting back to his weekly Facebook videos, he said he hopes others in the real estate profession do something similar. “There’s enough business out there. If my competition is successful, the profession is successful.” He adds, “Enough people have helped me, even my competition. If I can lead other people to do what I do and have the same attitude I have, it helps the industry long-term. I have a vested interest in the industry’s success, not just my success.”