ethical lender: 6069 Lakeside Way, Indian Lake NY 12842 - 01/14/08 03:46 PM
PRIME WATER FRONT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!
Sometimes as people age and times change businesses change hands and life goes on. One person having had the good fortune of running a successful business for a good many years and ready to relax and enjoy the fruits of his good labor. Another person setting his goals high perparing for what good fortune may... Read More
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ethical lender: Video in your blog! The next big wave? - 01/13/08 10:49 AM
Lately I am always on the lookout for things that can help me increase my various blog's SEO. I recently stumbled across the idea of using video as a web enhancement. I think that it is a really great idea! It gives me the ability to add even more new content and it gives a really nice look and feel to the blog. I am setting up an example of what I'm referring to below.
Pointers? Tips?
They are welcome!
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ethical lender: Your Realtor Said You Should What?! - 01/11/08 02:12 PM
I commented on a blog and I would like to share my comment with the rest of you and ask you what you all think. I hope the comment was not offensive to the author, but this is something that I feel strongly about. I would be so offended if a Realtor whom is working on the other end of a deal from me recomend that My client seek another lender... That would be my last transaction with that Realtor.
On  the same token I would never bad mouth the fee of a Realtor working on the other end of a deal … (5 comments)

ethical lender: Who's on the web anyway?Google knows! - 01/11/08 12:03 PM
Turns out...
Just about everyone is on the web today and those who are not should be. I remember a few years back when the big Dot Com Bubble apparently burst. Now look at the web, it is booming.
When things grow too quickly the side affect is that they are unstable. As a matter of fact instability is as at the forefront of a market that grows too quickly to maintain current levels for long periods of time. Slow and steady growth can maintain itself because as things age and grow there are new waves of revenue.
Damn Mortgage Brokers...
Just kidding... But it is true … (5 comments)

ethical lender: Ouch.. Don't duplicate, it hurts... - 01/10/08 11:57 PM
I guess I hurt my own Search Engine ranking without knowing that I was doing so. I launched a marketing strategy a few months ago and I have been writing about it here and there on AR. One thing that I did not know is that duplicate information is identified and removed from Google's directory.
My thinking was that the more places that I displayed my information the better that I would be ranked in Google. I was wrong and I now I have given myself the task of going through my hundreds of posts on the internet in an effort to … (8 comments)

ethical lender: You Mogul You! - 01/10/08 12:22 AM
Last night I began a post, and had a great idea for it. Half way through when the exaustion hit me and I realized that it was 1am I decided to cut the blog post short and post what I had. The blog originally was going to be about moguling.com. I just discovered them and from what I can tell it is the real deal.
Not quite sure though whether or not it is better than any free service like this one with regard to driving traffic. I signed up for the service last night and I plan on doing with … (2 comments)

ethical lender: Stick with it and it'll pay off! (Oops, Revised) - 01/09/08 04:04 PM
 
 
Ok, OK, maybe not all..
But I have tried several different methods of expanding my web presence. Initially I was thrilled to learn about just one way. When I was introduced to AR and began seeing my name appear in major search engines like Google, I was floored. I couldn't believe that with a bit of effort and zero dollars advertising expenses I could make myself so accessible.
I stayed on the path and met with mini-successes in my progress along the way. I subscribe to the school of thought that most Loan Originator's who repeatedly fail in their marketing techniques fail because … (0 comments)

ethical lender: Everyday is another opportunity to win... - 01/08/08 12:39 AM
I just thought that I'd come on here to mention that the closing went great yesterday and the client was so happy that he said that he and his wife are going to write me a letter of recommendation. that will make a great testimonial. I actually asked him to summarize my service in one sentence. I told him that I'd write it and send it to him for signature. He thought about it for a second but as overwhelmed as he was due to the fact that he had to leave my closing and go to another he declined and … (5 comments)

ethical lender: Another Great Deal for 2008! - 01/06/08 04:54 AM
It's Sunday afternoon and all I can think about is getting back into the office tomorrow and going forward reaping the rewards and benefits of the hard work that I am sinking into the implementation of my marketing strategies.
I have a loan closing tomorrow morning at 10:30am. I am very happy that things went so smooth on this transaction as there were contingencies in the contract. The closing of this transaction was contingent upon the successful completion of 4 Mortgage transaction only one of which was in my hands.
My buyer client was selling his home and buying a new home from … (5 comments)

ethical lender: Stop Posting Your Listings On Your Blog ...It Looks So Tacky... - 01/05/08 06:15 PM
 
 Or Does It?...
I have read a couple of other peoples posts that reflect on whether or not it is a good practise to post Property listings on a blog... I wasn't sure for a while and I posted several of the Listings that I have on the web which are part of a Co-Marketing campaign that I run to this blog.
I personally did not like the way my blog read. It seems tactless and spammy with a bunch of listings between my actual content. I was receiving a lot of phone calls on the properties that I have listed on the … (7 comments)

ethical lender: Help Me... My Blog Keeps Evaporating! - 01/04/08 12:00 AM
I constantly find myself thinking in blog format. I guess that as blogging has become a way of life for me and I often think in terms of "Blog". I get a lot of good blogging ideas that hit me at the most inopportune times. Sometimes I'll get a great idea for a blog but if I can't make it to a computer in time the idea fades and when I finally do get in front of a computer the idea is gone.
Some of my best blogging ideas come when I am not thinking about it. I'll just be drifting off in … (8 comments)

ethical lender: Win Win Win ... Hey what can I say? - 01/03/08 07:58 AM
I had a couple come into my office today terribly upset at the conduct of the seller. When these people came into my office they told me "Chris, do whatever it takes to get us approved for this mortgage". Their qualifications were lacking but I put the extra effort and got them approved.
I am not going to get into specifics here due to the delicate nature of what my clients were upset about but I will say that they are absolutely justified in being upset. I will also say that while they have upheld every bit of their obligations regarding the … (3 comments)

ethical lender: Reighn in the New Year! - 01/02/08 06:12 AM
I just got another CTC. This is great, December was a slow month, but I closed a loan the very last day of December and I am closing one within the first full week of January. I have my eyes on the 10th or 11th as tentative closing dates for another deal in process right now.
I am waiting on a couple of contracts, I have a few appraisals out and things are generally looking up. I have somewhere around 85 single site property websites up and working for my partners and I. I am plastering information about what I am … (2 comments)

ethical lender: On a bright note... - 12/31/07 12:36 AM
I have had a decent month. I have had some frustration this month but that is to be expected in this industry, especially with the bottom still falling out and the holiday season being a normally slow time of the year. A couple of the loans that I have been working on for December will roll over for January which will make January a very good month for me.
Mid last week I did not expect to close any more of my loans. I thought by Thursday of next week that the month was over and I began preparing for January. I … (1 comments)

ethical lender: Give me back my lunch! - 12/27/07 07:04 AM
Man-O-Man. I am working on a couple of deals hat are taking up a lot of my time. My clients are important to me so I will see them through. At times I just want to walk away from certain issues on files but I know that I can't. I can't start a project and not finish, that just wouldn't be right.
I wrote a previous post talking about how I am going to be more selective. I am certain now that that is the answer. I do not want to find myself in the position in where I am scraping just … (0 comments)

ethical lender: Attack of the Killer Taxes! - 12/27/07 01:48 AM
I am working with a very nice couple. They are buying the home that they have been living in for quite a while. Currently they do not pay PMI, Homeowners, or taxes on the property. They only pay the rent which is pretty high.
They really want to own the home. Their goal when they came into my office was simply to see if they can get qualified for a purchase as they had been turned down several times before. I hate property taxes and recognize them as a necessary evil. Without them towns and cities across the nation would be … (6 comments)

ethical lender: Fannie/Freddie going obsolete! - 12/27/07 01:27 AM
December has been a tough month. are any of you feeling the crunch? I have not focused on my web presence as much as I like to this month. I have not as actively marketed. I have had plenty of business to keep me busy and have not had as much time. The business that I have done this month has been very hard. I have had a couple of borrowers who used to be prime who are no longer. Not because their qualifications have changed but rather the system that we use to rate our borrowers qualifications has changed.
I personally … (2 comments)

ethical lender: Merchant Circle anyone? - 12/20/07 12:40 AM
I did not realize until recently just how cool merchant circle is. I signed up yesterday and I have written a couple of blogs recently that can be viewed at http://www.merchantcircle.com/blogs/Christopher.Ohlsen.866-562-6930. Merchant circle is really geared toward local activity which for all of us is great. I have invited several companies to join my cirlce and I have had several accept so far.
Every time you write a blog or perform certain activities on the MC you ear ad dollars, not sure what they can be used for yet but I will figure it out. Any members here? Maybe some of you … (12 comments)

ethical lender: BNI, There can only be one! - 12/19/07 01:38 AM
And I hope that one is me. An appraiser whom I work with regularly (Kenny McDonald-518-566-6112) who I'd say is among the best appraiser's in the entire area invited me to a free breakfast yesterday. The breakfast is taking place at the Elks Club in Plattsburgh, NY. The breakfast is being hosted by the local chapter of BNI.
As I understand it there can only be one member of a given profession representing that profession in each chapter of BNI. Kenny Tells me that there is a "mortgage guy" who is in the group, but that he does not broker mortgages, he is … (5 comments)

ethical lender: Let's Make it a Great 2008!Yes? - 12/18/07 08:11 AM
Is the closing statement in an email that I received from a Realtor partner of mine whom I am helping to advertise. It was just the closing statement, but in and of itself it is a wonderful statement that can be applied over and over again year after year.
I feel that for my own personal and professional growth this statement is more true than ever. I have had my ups and downs in this business and in general since I've been old enough to work. This is the work that has really captured my heart and I am poised for success … (2 comments)