Another "hurry up and wait" month on tap for the end of October. September saw families readjusting to the school year as it always does and very little business being conducted. Although, with the dip in Mortgage Rates seen at the end of the month, applications for a new mortgage skyrocketed. Typically, these fluctuations in the mortgage application rate mean a squall of loan signing business for us at about six weeks after the application blip. Many lenders have gotten better with the 30 day turnaround while utilizing their "skeleton crews" [appropriate for October huh?] to produce the deals for signatures.
Hopefully, the phone will begin to ring sooner than Halloween night. Invariably, mortgage brokers and Loan Officers alike, ratchet up the pressure only with a "month-end" deadline looming. I know of no rule that requires deals be signed during the last three business days of the month. Yet, seemingly like clockwork, that is when our phones ring off the hook! Experienced Brokers seem to have deals closing at all times of the month. They also value the role of a Notary Signing Agent in guiding their borrowers through a process that can seem overwhelming and keeping their deal from going sideways at the table. Choosing an Experienced, Ethical and Professional Notary Signing Agent seems more important than ever.
"A Quick Note" is a Certified Loan Signing Agent doing business across six Southern California counties, based in Lake Forest, in the heart of Orange County. We are familiar with all types of paper, having completed over 6,000 Loan Signings since 2002. During the downward trend of the Southern California mortgage business over the last two years, we diversified our services to include: Service of Process, Messenger and Errand Services as well as Photo/Occupancy inspections. A huge believer in technology, we are GPS guided to all locations and have on-board wireless for [Am-Trust and other] E-Signings and prompt communication for next-stop instructions. Please visit and bookmark our website and be sure to follow us on Twitter!
Self-employment continues to be a "double-edged sword" as we in Southern California mortgage-related businesses continue to meander through the trials of a foul economy. While I've seen a fair amount of hardship all around me and experienced more of it than I'd like to admit personally, hanging in there and staying self-employed seems to have been the right move-at least for me.
Clearly, income has not returned to 2005 levels. Still, 2009 has shown great improvement over the prior two years. When the bottom fell out during the first quarter of 2007, I was bewildered and somewhat broken-hearted. Having finally [after 25+ years] found the career I loved and being successful at it and generating an income that I always felt we deserved, that sudden THUD of mortgage-related businesses closing all around us was almost overwhelming. It seems that those businesses are reopening now in their leaner, meaner versions. Finding those professionals who either regrouped or reinvented themselves has been no easy task and the search continues.
Relying upon my service-oriented background while struggling to stay positive and upbeat has helped us find our way forward. We continue to minimize overhead, offer new services and remain flexible. This mix of cost cutting and expanding offerings has allowed us to survive. I feel good about the future of my business because I remain in control. As I struggle to regain the level of income my business once had, I'm thankful that I didn't return to a "day-job" and actually reduced my overhead to a more manageable level. Chances are, had I joined another firm, I'd have been faced with with becoming part of that 11% of Californians without a job.
So, keep us in mind for your Southern California Loan (and other) Signings, Service of Process and Urgent Messenger delivery in Orange County, Occupancy/Photo Inspections and for Finding a Notary Signing Agent Nationwide.
"A Quick Note" Mobile Notary and Document Delivery Servicewww.aquicknote.net Please also add us to your cell phone contacts under "Notary" (949) 279-6874
Another sign [for me] that the refinance business is geting back on track, is the unmistakeable hurry-up-and-wait for loan documents being produced by lenders at the end of the month. Both Escrow personnel and Notary Signing Agents receive documents late, after anticipating them all day and just in the nick of time. These time-sensitive refinance documents must be signed allowing for a three-day right-to-cancel and one additional day for funding and recording of the deal at the end of the month. On the last two or three business days approaching this final window, escrow officers and notaries alike are bombarded with "must-sign-today" requests from lenders and mortgage brokers all wanting their deal to be inked immediately if not sooner.
Funny, how I used to complain about this process and bemoan the last minute crunch. Today, I'm just so happy it is here that I've forgotten to be angry that brokers don't get hot behind their deals sometime earlier in the month. Today I vow never to gripe again at the end-of-month crunch and merely accept with grateful, open arms all the work I can possibly squeeze into these few days.
With turmoil in the financial sector and mortgages in crisis, until recently, banks have been unwilling and perhaps even afraid to lend. However, since January of this year ['09] lenders have restarted the economic train to recovery by lending first to those borrowers most likely to repay. Customers having higher credit ratings and greater equity have led homeowners looking to capitalize on lower interest rates back into the refinance market here in Southern California. The expected "wave" of mortgage-holders whose option ARM's are set to adjust combined with government pressure to lend bailout capital will continue the move toward a resurgence of the mortgage industry. As for the long term outlook, there will continue to be periods and instances of difficulty as appraised values adjust and short term players take the hardest hits.
What does this mean for nationwide markets? Perhaps since California was the first to see the hit, it will also be the first to see a recovery. This conclusion is evidenced by an increasing number of lenders starting their machines from zero and once again beginning to lend here in the southland. As a Southern California small business owner who was in desperate need of a restart to my own mortgage related business, I can tell you I am grateful to see work happening and believe that better times are not far away.
Seeing our world through the prism of a downward spiraling economy, and with major businesses poised to fail or be reorganized and/or downsized, the challenge to maintain standards and to practice ethical behavior is compounded. While our leaders debate the pros and cons of plans to rebuild and fortify our economy, average Americans react to job losses, higher tax burdens and they begin to hunker down to ride out the storm.
During times of challenge, it seems that others more desperate than ourselves are well poised to prey upon us and pull us toward bending both our own standards and in some cases the law. Certainly, the allure of easy money, the lack of oversight and the temptation of weak human beings facing difficult choices contribute to unethical behavior and standards. It is therefore important to remind yourself each day that such standards must be upheld, adhered to and modeled for others-as well as enforced upon those who might deviate.
When our parents impressed upon us to do right, they never couched their admonitions with phrases like "when it suits you" or "unless you can cheat a little". They believed in things like honor, personal responsibility and boys NEVER under any circumstances hitting girls (but I digress). They believed in such things because they had fought hard to create them in what they deeply believed was the greatest country on the face of the planet earth.
In my daily life as a Notary Signing Agent, I have seen how reminding yourself to do right and then going out and doing it has made all the difference. First, you inspire the confidence of others who will trust you and your services. That, leads to loyalty in your customer, then to client satisfaction and in turn, others recommending your products or services. To me, that sounds like intelligent growth. Such growth, along with a positive attitude and steady reinforcement will spread like wildfire-I've seen it happen!
My wish for you is the fortitude and the confidence to do what is right each time you are presented with a dilemma of conscience. Although we are faced with significant challenges, doing what is right and good is our best way forward.
"A Quick Note" Mobile Notary and Document Delivery Service has survived the economic downturn that has been described as a mortgage melt-down. How did we do it? We downsized. My wife and partner took both a day-job and a part-time night/weekend job. We expanded our services. We returned to conducting messenger services, I became a Registered/Bonded Process Server and we learned to conduct photo/occupancy inspections. We also grew our Nationwide database of Notary Signing Agents and prepared to conduct signing services nationwide. Since January, 2009, the refinance market has returned and I am again conducting a significant amount of Loan Document Signings.
As is her way, my wife Sharon worked hard to help us stay afloat and to allow me to keep the business I love and the career for which I am best suited. Hers is a sacrifice that I will always remember, appreciate and credit for the saving of our business. Because of her hard work I am poised to capture [and recapture] significant work and both grow our fortune and allow me to love what I do every day.
Thank you Sharon! I love you and I thank God for the day that he brought us together! I know that 2009 is the year of recovery and I look forward to every moment we will share in making it just that.
Well, January '09 turned out to be 142% v.s. prior year. I feel justified in my happiness to see '08 just go away!
Escrow offices, mostly quiet for '07 and '08 are buzzing with refinance business. Escrow officers and assistants are scrambling all day and working late to crank out docs. Thus my phone is ringing and email is lighting up!
Having spent more time than I'd wanted NOT conducting business but instead "chasing" business in '08, it is great to see lenders beginning to free up funds to qualified buyers. My sincere hope is that each and every one of you out there begin to see the same results and that my prediction about post-election recovery continues to be correct.
I didn't really do a retrospective post about 2008. Perhaps it is because I feel particularly blessed simply by having it behind me. Certainly there is optimism about 2009 that promises to heal the wounds of 2008 and for that matter, 2007. Those of us who lived through it GOT through it. We'd prefer to NOT be reminded of it, and we turn our hope and our all our attention to 2009. 2009 can be the year of recovery. If not yet the year of prosperity, it can be the year of stabilization...the year we learned we'd all be O.K.
Here are a few of my hopes and dreams for 2009:
1. I hope President Obama has every success that he ran his campaign upon and I wish him well in his effort to shoulder the burden he takes on (tomorrow, 01/20/2009). I hope he takes the responsibility of keeping Americans safe seriously and stands up to terrorism in all it's forms.
2. I hope lenders use T.A.R.P. funds to create the programs that are desperately needed by all the folks who lost their jobs and their ability to make mortgage payments and that the mortgage industry begins to see a ray of light where profit is second to affordability...at least, for awhile.
3. I hope I NEVER hear of another Notary Public involved in fraud for profit. Ours is a sacred trust, that of the people. I hope the states make becoming a Notary (and renewing your commission) more difficult NOT easier and that those who do not regard their oath as solemn are never sworn in.
4. I hope brokers act more responsibly as to the mortgages they put their clients into and receive commissions for. Telling borrowers the hard truth wouldn't be a bad idea either...not everyone can afford the American dream...it may be sad, but, it's true!
5. I hope the UAW realizes that the big 3 are more than just their next paycheck and makes concessions and takes a paycut that allows those employers to remain competitive. I hope the new vehicles that the big 3 make outsell their competition because they have offered a better product...a product that Americans want to buy...
6. I hope my home state (California) government, the Governor and the Legislature stop spending money they don't have. Without more federal funding, California cannot continue to open its arms to our neighbors to the south. For that matter, we need to better support federal laws that outlaw illegal immigration. Conversely, we need to support legal immigration so that new immigrants bring value and purpose to our lives as well as theirs as new Americans.
What was that thing my Mother told me? Oh yeah. "If you can't say something nice, it's better to say nothing at all". As a deeply passionate person with strong convictions, I am often coaxed out to comment upon or defend a belief or something I feel wronged by. The problem with doing that is that while it makes me feel better for having stood my ground, I am often seen out of context by readers of social media where I participate. I'm rather transparent (though I have complex opinions) and believe the world should take me as I am. What I need to remember is that the words in a blog or written in 140 characters on Twitter will not begin to clue others into who I am nor what I am really about.
My primary reason for participation is to drive my Notary Signing Business which has been awful as it too is tied to the mortgage industry. I try to direct all conversations back to who I am, what I'm about and what I do (Notary/Messenger/Signing Service Nationwide/Registered-Bonded Process Server/Occupancy Inspector/Drive-by Photo Inspections and even light freight delivery). I get passionate about politics and current events and topics like ethics and although it hurts, I've begun steering more away from those topics...I may relapse so no promises.
The really interesting thing, is that when I'm "fluffy" and happy and pretending well to love everyone (I really don't dislike many, but I confess there are a few) I seem to ATTRACT more of the folks who want to or will do business with my company. Like DUH right? My point is only that the few minutes of chit-chat about the weather or kids or grand-kids buys and endless supply of goodwill and I need to do a better job of reminding myself to do that. Sometimes I get too focused on the work and take on a serious demeanor that potential clients misinterpret. Spending that extra 10 minutes (5 at the beginning and 5 on the way out) of fluffy time will guarantee that business will grow.
I'm all about the good news, the positive energy and the promise of this new year 2009. While we all recover from the last couple of years, I ask that you support me in my fluffiness. For the record too: Mom, you were right... AGAIN!!
To my friends here within the Active Rain community:
Well, 2009 has arrived...and not a moment too soon! 2008 was a tough year for everyone associated with Housing, Real Estate, Mortgages and particularly "Loan Signing". We have made every effort to diversify (we now offer: Messenger Services in Orange County, we are Registered/Bonded Process Servers and we do Occupancy/Photo inspections) our business while continuing to maintain the highest of ethical standards within the Notary Signing work that we continue to do. Remember too that we also offer assistance in finding a Notary Signing AgentNATIONWIDE using our very own database of select individuals...if you have need of such services outside Southern California. We learned more about some newer "products" this year too: Reverse Mortgages, Loan Modifications and expanded our single (or few) document "mobile notary" signing business significantly to both Attorneys and the General Public. As we have requested in the past, please take a moment to share this information and the following contact information (place us in your cell phone contacts under "NOTARY" because everyone needs a notary sooner or later) with all of your friends, family and colleagues that might utilize our service(s). There is no greater compliment than your recommendation and we truly appreciate your business!
I hope that each of us remains positive in our outlook and determined in our demeanor so as to create good things for us all in the upcoming year and I hope to see you soon so I can say Happy New Year in person!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
;)
;)
