What Is Better Than Shopping for Interest Rates?

Fred Hicks (C4Life LLC) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:56:16 -0700

I recall when my wife and I were looking for our home. We heard so many horror stories about how difficult it was to buy a home. One of the main issues that prevent many people from buying a home is credit. Well, I am happy to say that my wife and I did not have that hurdle to jump. We also heard that debt and income were other issues. I am happy to say that I was debt free and a veteran of 15 years in the armed forces happily receiving my pay check on the 1^st and 15^th of each month. Besides finding the perfect home for our season of life, finding the right mortgage for our season of life was the number one priority.

My wife and I opted for a VA 30 Year Fixed Mortgage with a 6% interest rate. In my estimation, it was the perfect product and interest rate for our season of life. You may ask? Why am I sharing this particular story with you? I am often asked, what seems to be the most important question that every consumer on the face of the earth wants to know...what are your rates? My response has and continues to be, "what is important about interest rates?" I am not trying to avoid the question. In fact, I am asking this question to discover what season of life a future client may be in.

Everything works in cycles, particularly our finances. How so, you may ask? When you are single, your only concern is you. When you are married, your concern is your spouse. When you have children, the concern typically becomes your family. The children enter elementary, junior high, high school, hopefully college, and then you are an empty nester. You look up and say, we made it. Okay it may not happen exactly like that...but you get my drift. As such, the way you think about finances change as you move from one season of life to another.

My answer to the question is simple...relationship, relationship, relationship. Why? Statistically speaking, on average in our American society, people move approximately 7 times. Accordingly, they will have at least 7 different mortgages excluding refinancing. Do you think it would be beneficial to your financial well being to remain with one person that understands your overall financial goals or several? Lastly, what is the name of the person that did your last refinance or home purchase mortgage?

How important are financial relationships to you? Please email me at fred.hicks@themortgagemakeover.com I would love to hear your story. Have an awesome August.

Trusted Advisor

Fred Hicks (C4Life LLC) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:13:42 -0700

What is a trusted advisor? A trusted advisor is one that operates in three capacitites for their current and future family of clients (FOC):

Consultant
Negotiator
Oversees Transactional Details

The question is - how does one become a trusted advisor in the eyes of their (FOC's). It is quite simple. If you are honest, knowledgeable and capable of communicating to their emotional need to help them make a wise financial decision that is good for them, you will be considered a trusted advisor.

What's important about being a trusted advisor? Well, in my opinion, you never have to look for new clients, they will come looking for you. It also helps if you, as the trusted advisor, always have a person in your synergy group that you can direct them too. I make it a personal practice to send my family of clients to people I have personally transacted business with.

When you become a trusted advisor, your future family of clients will not question your fees because they fully understand that your motivation is to help them make great real estate and financial decisions that uniquely benefits them.

People are my passion...helping them make great real estate and financial decisions is what I do.

Fred Hicks's Blog

What Is Better Than Shopping for Interest Rates?

Trusted Advisor