ARMs Don't Kill Houses, Loan Hacks Kill Houses - 07/30/07 10:59 AM
Adjustable rate mortgages, ARMs for short, are the most misunderstood, misused, and maligned financial instrument.  The have been abused by consumers, Realtors and loan originators alike these past 3-4 years and are now the subject of national scourge.  Much like our Second Constitutional Amendment critics, the ARM critics are usually misinformed and preying upon the fear of catastrophe. 
These inexperienced mortgage sales people or "loan hacks" as I like to call them, are banking upon your fear of catastrophe.  Loan hacks sold you ARMs in 2003 and negative amortization ARMs in 2005.  After they ride the fixed rate mortgage trend, they'll … (52 comments)

Selling Like a Catholic School Girl - 07/20/07 10:36 AM
Have you ever heard of a "natural-born salesperson" ?  The enterprising kid who organizes the neighborhood car wash grows up sell derivatives to hedge funds.  She's described as a "natural-born salesperson".
That's not fair.  She worked hard at it, probably since age six. 
I listened to a training presentation by Greg Frost today, President of Frost Mortgage in Albuquerque.  Greg recounted a funny story in his presentation and expanded upon it at the cocktail hour, sponsored by American Brokers Conduit.  Let me start off by saying that I relate to Greg Frost.  He's an old-school originator and the first billion dollar producer.  We … (62 comments)

If You Ain't Cheating, You Ain't Trying - 07/14/07 03:00 AM
How is baseball like applying for a home loan?  Read the title.
I am thoroughly amazed at how normal, sober, upstanding members of the community purposefully commit mortgage fraud.   Like baseball, they don't cheat alone; they have plenty of help.  Lazy Realtors and shady mortgage brokers will gladly "go the distance". 
The buyers were encouraged to lie on their loan application.
READ ON AT AMERICA'S MORTGAGE BROKER … (57 comments)

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished - 07/06/07 07:01 AM
www.RealEstateAgentSearch.info  is a scam.
Real Estate Agent Search, run by IMS Leads and Lisa Scherzer, is nothing more than a veiled attempt to steal your money.  It's a hoax, a joke, a fly by night operation that doesn't respond to repeated attempts by phone or e-mail to explain or justify their service offering.  They are a company certainly deserving of the "Cheeseball Award" bestowed upon them and their induction to the Active Rain Hall of Shame.
Lisa lists the following "Associates" on her profile:
If any of you can contact her, please suggest that this thief return my phone calls.  My number is 858-699-4590. 
Let … (87 comments)

Direction Rather Than Perfection - 07/05/07 02:25 PM
Todd Duncan suggests that we need to be more concerned with our Direction rather than our Perfection.
Here Are Six Questions to see if you are focused on Direction rather than Perfection:
1- Why are you in this business? 
We usually get exactly what we want.  Most of us made a conscious decision to be in our own businesses and then fell into the trap of acting as an employee of one.  If you aren't clear on the "why" of being in business and align your actions with that "why", you'll always be an employee of "one".  Robert Kiyosaki wrote Cash Flow Quadrant … (31 comments)

Independence Is About Having Options - 07/03/07 11:09 AM
We define "Mortgage Independence Day" differently than your parents or grandparents did.  Rather than having your loan paid in full, we prefer to identify "Mortgage Independence Day" as the day when you have enough money , IN A SEPARATE ACCOUNT, to pay off the home loan...IF THAT IS WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO.  We think that lots of cash in the bank (or investments) is the ultimate form of independence.  
It appears that our mantra of equity splitting and investing for your future is catching on.  The New York Times ran an article about Baby Boomers who are rejecting the … (5 comments)

Hard Money isn't "EASY" Money For Mortgage Brokers - 07/02/07 11:00 PM
An excerpt from this post:
Private mortgage loans are not a license to jack up the fees. I often turn away brokered business because of originator greed. Lenders charge points to enhance their yield. A common practice in our industry is for the originating broker to increase his/her brokerage fee to equal or better the lender-charged points. The result is an unrealistic fee financed by the lender and subsequent decline. If brokers are charging a borrower 1-2 points for a subprime loan, and the loan turns into a private mortgage loan, brokers should not automatically raise their fees because the borrower is … (9 comments)

It Ain't About How Hard You Hit - 07/01/07 08:24 AM
Do you want some FREE ADVICE about life?
How about some help for the real estate brokerage business when the market is slow and you're just trying to get things started?
I'm going to give you a glimpse at greatness.  Amazing advice.  Tony Robbins couldn't give it to you this straight.  Zig Ziglar couldn't.  Only Rocky Balboa, the mythical but realistic character, created by Sylvester Stallone, could impart this wisdom.
From the sixth and final offering in the Rocky series:
CLICK HERE FOR AN AMAZING TWO MINUTE PODCAST FROM THE MOVIE ROCKY BALBOA  
Here's the important line (it comes in around 1:22 in the … (57 comments)