We all know that referrals are considered the "holy grail" of the mortgage business. They're an easy sell, and customers are less likely to shop around. But, the reason why most loan originators don't get a lot of referrals is that they don't know how to cultivate them. It takes time and an ongoing commitment to building relationships.If you're just starting out or don't have a large base of past customers to draw from, consider joining a...more
The following story was shared with me recently, it's been circulating around the net for years and I now share it with you.In the United States of America lies a large industrial city which is the sight of one of the world's largest slave labor camps.Located in and around the center of this city are community settlements where the economic slaves live.Each morning the slaves move in herds like cattle from their small quarters into the slave...more
No matter how successful you are, or how many loans you have closed, you should expect hiccups. No loan every goes as smoothly as you think it will. And with all the third parties involved on any one transaction, you can and WILL have problems.Here are some of the most common "hiccups". I thought of about the top 30 I have been hit with. By the way, my Sink or Swim Loan Closing System at http://www.loanclosingsystem.com helps you avoid almost all of them. If you want to get more loans to the table faster and earn more money, I strongly advise you at least have a look at my mortgage system and give it a try.Hiccups which you may encounter include:1. The borrower not being clear on what exactly he is "buying". Or not fully committed.2. The borrower not being clear on what the loan process entails.3. Not getting all the proper documentation from the borrower upfront.4. The borrower's spouse isn't fully "sold" on the benefits of the transaction and doesn't want to go through with it.5. The borrower is still shopping your "rate", even though you are well into the process (this is a BIG one!!!!!!).6. Not getting returned phone calls from the borrower, or even from third parties...more
Being a salesperson is never easy. To sell effectively, you must to be willing to do things that challenge you. No top producer has ever reached the upper ranks without first moving outside their comfort zone. Someone recently sent me this poem and I wanted to share it with you. I hope it inspires you to keep challenging yourself and be willing...more
In my last article, I covered the two main ways to start your own mortgage company. One way, was to go it completely aloneÂ…apply for your own broker's license, set-up all the relationships with the various lenders, handle all the back office stuff like accounting, compliance, etc. All of this, giving you your independence, but being extremely...more
I got a call from a loan officer in Lansing, Michigan recently and he called to tell me that he was an avid reader of my newsletter but was giving-up and throwing in the towel. He said he was burnt-out, tired of chasing realtors, and dealing with customers that play games. He had had enough!When I asked him what lead to his decision, he said that he had only been in the industry for about a year, and had to learn everything himself along the way, but didn't feel confident in himself because he wasn't closing many loans. He said that business became a lot tougher and more cut-throat and he just couldn't compete with everyone else out there. (His wife was all on him too!)When I asked him why he had gotten into mortgages, he said he did it because he heard that there was "big money to be made" and he figured a couple loans under his belt would be more than he made in a year. He said he always had a passing interest in "real estate" but had never bought or sold a home before and didn't know much about the finance side of things. He quickly found-out how complex and difficult this business is. I had little sympathy for him. With chasing "big money" and having absolutely no...more
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the idea of approaching "for sale" properties (both FSBO and MLS listed ones) as a lead generation strategy. Here is a quick excerpt from the article entitled "Double Dipping Just Like The Real Estate Agents...more
How many times have you answered the phone and heard "What's your rate?" from a customer? I guarantee it comes-up on every phone call, usually within the first 30 seconds of the conversation. Customers ask it because they don't know any better. To...more
You have three choices you have in getting your mortgage site up and running. To recap, they are:1. Go it alone and design it yourself.2. Hire a web design firm to custom build a mortgage site for you.3. Use a ready-made instant website from a...more
Let your customers know that the best compliment they can give you is a referral.Here is a sample follow-up letter (I pulled out of my personal files) you can use with customers who have recently closed a loan with you. You'll see that it...more
For sale by owner properties, or FSBO's as they are commonly refereed, are some of the best places to look for new clients. If done correctly, they can provide a steady stream of interested and motivated new home purchasers. And at very little...more
As a mortgage broker, one of your main advantages is that you have access to many different lenders and hundreds of loan programs, which you can offer your customers. Having too many lenders to deal with--however--can become one of your biggest...more