Mortgage Pro Week in Review -- 06/23/08 through 06/29/08I was genuinely honored when Jeff Belonger asked me to write this review. I read so many mortgage posts that I figured I'd be a natural for this. You'll find as many mortgage writers among my subscription list as Realtors. How that happened is easy to see - the best Mortgage Pros seem to have a way of Romancing the Realtor in me. We all know that to survive in this business, we need each other. It's a natural pairing. When Realtors and Lenders get together, we make dreams come true. We all need a little review now and then, so for this weeks featured posts, I present to you Romance 101:
When it comes to romancing the girl in me, there's no question about it - only one person has the power to do that! Since you all expect it anyway, I won't disappoint you and neither will he. In true Sardi fashion, he teaches us what really makes the difference in the art of wooing a client with... Testimonials Kick A$$! by Jason SardiOn the other hand, if you really want to know how NOT to woo a Realtor, (and we all know a Realtor + Mortgage Lender = True Love!), you won't want to miss this no holds barred tutorial... Ten Things To Do To Screw Up Your Presentation To A Realtor. by Chris JohnsonIf Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, then making heads or tails out of 'He said' 'She said' keeps us all guessing. Especially when it comes to figuring out what a pick-up line really means. Guess no further (and be prepared to laugh) with this handy little primer.. What it Really Means! by Jim CrawfordNow you're an expert. The flirting is working and you know exactly what you want. You go confidently in search of "the one", but try as you might, he/she is nowhere to be found. Maybe your standards are too high. Maybe you just want it all. Well who doesn't? Don't dispair any longer because you CAN have everything you've always dreamed of right here with the guy who has it all... 100% LTV, NO FICO, NO DOC - Worldwide, Commercial, Land, Residential Development by Rod Tinsley
If all is fair in Love and War, then what about Real Estate? What is acceptable when it comes to telling all? Is there really such thing as too much information? If you think you know the answer, you might need to rethink your strategy. Before you do though, don't miss... What is fair game for a lender to share with a listing agent???? by Olan CarderOk, so now you've got 'em right where you want them. You've sealed the deal, so to speak. What happens next? We all know it doesn't take long before you both begin to lay down the law. Every relationship depends on them to survive. (If only my beloved would simply learn to follow them!) If you find yourself in doubt about what's expected from you, it's all right here... My expectations for a realtor by Paul McFadden
You fell in love, you knew it was right, you worked at it even when the passion was gone. If there is one thing you didn't plan on, it was this. Still, we all make mistakes. Divorce is never easy, but when it happens, you'd do well to follow this advice from Active Rain's very own Sage of Mortgages... Divorce / Real Estate / Money by William J Archambault Jr (or Uncle Bill!)
It's inevitable, after it's all said and done, the vultures will find the carnage - they always do. Let's face it... it IS a jungle out there and we'd all be wise to better understand how to survive it. All the rules have changed since you were last in the game. No one lays it out better than this... Freshly Killed Mortgages and Jungle Economics by Janet GuibaultHow did it all go so wrong? After the tears have dried, we try to find a little solace in understanding. It isn't easy sometimes, but if you really look hard you'll find the answers. For a in-depth look at how it all went awry, you'll find it here... A Very Simple View of Our Sub prime Crisis. Chap 3. Wall Steet Investment Banks. by Alan 'AJ' Nisen
Thanks for reading these terrific selections and until next week, I wish each and every one of you all the love in the world! MWA!
Up next week... Alan 'AJ' Nisen 06/30/2008 through 07/06/2008
Mortgage blogs by loan officers Here is a list of Loan Officers. If you are not listed, please email Jeff Belonger to be added. This way the person doing the Mortgage Pro week in review can try and find most mortgage related posts in one section. ActiveRain is growing rapidly and it is difficult to keep up.... If you think you have been ignored, you have not. This is open to all!!! MORTGAGE PRO Week in Review A repository for the Mortgage Week in Review. Please don’t hesitate in joining this group. There will be no recreations of any type regarding the titles or content of this group or Review without the permission and expressed written consent of the Group's founder- Copyright 2007©
I'm Calling Your Bluff... Yes YOU Blog Stalker!I don't know know who you are. I don't know why you're stalking my blog. But I think you should just give yourself up.
Let's face it: if you like the content, then simply subscribe.... though I notice you haven't. If you want to engage in meaningful conversation, then initiate one.... but you haven't. Not really. If you want to talk to me, but you're afraid because you're really strange... then I understand.
But please, will you LOG IN and stop freaking me out???? Another Rainy Day
I begin humming a soft lament from Les Mis - a spontaneous act that begins the dance of nature. Black as night, my kitty Sirius alights in the corner of my eye. Just there, he stalks me from between the razor blades of emerging crocosmia. Honeybees swirl about my sunburned shoulders and promise their allegiance. Sirius keeps them on their toes. The rare afternoon heat radiates the scent of lavender, rich earth and… a burning cigarette. It is my neighbor Don. Just short of a century in age, he joins the growing cacophony and chides me with a lame joke. He points out the need for more judicious pruning. My garden, it seems, has entered middle age. Woody stalks produce fewer flowers, less robust flora. Here and there it seems I have allowed starry-eyed wildflowers to wend their fanciful ways among the disciplined hellebores. I am an easy touch, he says. For many seasons he brought me the perfect cuttings, confessed his love for a long forgotten bartendress, regaled me with stories from a grander era of engineering. His bony hands gently shook as he paid respect to my late tomcat buried beneath the too blue forget-me-nots. His stooped frame throwing exaggerated shadows while his stories took their places among the contented foliage. Here in my imperfect utopia, my little bit of heaven – time stood still for him.
I watch as they roll him away. My tears are quiet so as not to disturb the emerging daphne. I keep them well hidden beneath the shade of my straw brim, careful not to let them to dry too soon. My garden needed him, and he it. Lest this relationship be misunderstood, there is a secret to the well-integrated garden. A sense of unity, homage to the passing of time – a reminder that we all require a bit of sacred ground. Clouds advance and before I can collect my tools, my hair is soaked. I run for cover as the rain drenches the fragile new starts. Heavy drops of glitter settle upon their tender green leaves. But they are young and agile, and I know they’ll be just fine. It is in this moment that I struggle to find hope. And it is there, just where it should be… in my garden filled with the sweet scent of summer night rain on roses. You Are Amazing“If a gem falls into mud, it is still valuable. If dust ascends to heaven, it is still valueless.”
~ Sufi Proverb
 Unable to sleep, barely able to eat, the one I admire keeps one desperate step ahead of the torment that would bring down the house if it had it’s way. The daily struggle to rise above the empty corridors where lesser colleagues have succumbed to this rapidly declining market only serves to fuel your fire. Running on empty, there is no end to the hours you spend plying your trade, exuding cool confidence, keeping up appearances. And hoping to God there is enough gas to make this round trip until the next commission check temporarily restores that negative balance. The workday is done. A certain courage permits the opening of unforgiving bills where the sudden downdraft of humility threatens to push back hours of progress. One step forward, two, maybe three back… My heart tries valiantly to find the words to bolster and reassure, but I know that remaining silent is better than patronizing. Because here’s the thing: Winners know their name. They hear it called out even in their darkest dreams. And nothing, especially the temporal world, will hold them down for long. This courage, this drive cannot be learned in any school. This is the real thing. I am drawn by something I can neither explain nor control. This is not something I can buy – nor is it anything I have known before. I realize that any value I cull from my association with you is pure grace. So I stand by and watch the beauty of survival on its own terms. Through a most illuminating lense I see the brightest star. And it is You. And while the other stars dimly shine in my imagination… you are my celestial fix, you are the poet of my inner constellation. You are amazing. The Climb
 Easily distracted by a beautiful smile, I’m an hour late getting on the road this morning. No one waits for me. So I make the climb alone. This is my freedom and I savor it like a rare fruit. My bike is tuned, though it becomes unbearably obvious that my legs are back at the starting line all over again. Another season has passed.  And now it begins. Sharks fly by on road bikes as I begin my trek in earnest. Fine, if that’s how they want it. I do what they cannot. As I detour off road, my game only gets stronger. The sky reaches out to me with its powdery blue embrace. The sun pierces my eyes while the moon hangs back with a promise for later. Wild flowers speckle the dry earth and I gather them up in my minds eye, a mountain bouquet to carry back to my lover. I hope he likes pink.
Is Anybody Home?It isn’t supposed to happen this way. And I was unprepared for it. It was later than usual on Friday evening and this was the last house on our tour. The property was vacant, so the late hour didn’t pose a problem. Even in the last light of day, everything about this house was lovely – it was painted a pretty red hue, the yard had been lovingly tended, wisteria draped it’s long arms across the front porch like an old friend. A single electric candle burned in the attic window. It felt welcoming. The listing indicated it was bank-owned and had been on the market for several months. A bit unusual for our market, especially in this neighborhood. And it didn’t make sense. My client stood back while I unlocked the front door. He waited for a proper invitation like the gentleman he is. The old and worn porch boards hadn’t been painted in years. I stepped softly in high heels to avoid catching my heel and tripping. In the quiet of the moment, the sudden click of the lockbox release nearly startled me. It was then that my eye caught the slightest movement through the beveled leaded glass door. There again, in the barest of light, stood a child inside, and then another, both quickly darting out of sight. Before I could even surmise the why of it, there was a young woman from around the corner. Our eyes made contact but for a moment and then she was gone. As though they were never there. My heart was pounding as I turned and walked back toward my client. I took him by the arm, though I couldn’t say a thing. He seemed to know the words I couldn’t find. An entire story unfolding in my eyes. Twilight is the saddest light there is. But for her, the woman who lost her home, it surely arrived as welcome relief. The time of day when she and her boys could finally return safely to the place they called home. That they are sleeping in the attic in what was once truly their home… well, what does she tell them? Their bedrooms now stripped of toys, blankets and beds… do they dare ask? She knows she is marking time until… Alone now and barely a block from my office, I park my car under a tree. My phone begs for attention with a dozen missed calls and texts. I am breathing hard to stop the flood of tears, but they insist. I want to go back, tell her a thousand things to make it better. Present them hot nourishing food. Apologize for the abuses in our industry that may have played a role in their misfortune. But I don’t really know. It dawns on me that I don’t hold a single answer. Was she at fault? Is she a victim? Whatever the truth, her children certainly are. This isn’t how it should be. Homeownership is the American Dream. And it isn’t supposed to happen this way.
Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge: And the Winners are....Whatever you may have thought about mortgage posts, chances are, you didn't expect them to have much in the way of panache. With very few exceptions, I thought the same thing. Until I was inspired recently by a post by Jason Sardi - the never boring Mortgage Stud of ActiveRain - to issue a challenge to anyone willing to break the mold on this typically dry topic. And let me tell you, we were astounded by the creativity and genuinely useful information that came out of these terrific entries. There was nothing easy about arriving at our three winners. Entries were judged in three categories: Creativity and Originality of Content, Actual Mortgage Information, and Lay-out and Staging.
I am excited to present the winners of the Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge!
is awarded to
for One McMortgage, Please, With A Side of Lies
CONGRATULATIONS to Janet for telling it like it is in a way that absolutely everyone can understand. She cleverly relates the perils of getting our mortgages cheap and on the run. If you haven't been reading Janet's blog, you've definitely been missing out. Her analogies are consistently on target and her writing is eloquent and understated.
2nd Place for 750 well-deserved points is awarded to
for The Mortgage Rap - Sing along! It's educational, it's fun, and it's fo' rizzle, yo.A most entertaining and original presentation of mortgage information in a format that will stick in your head for days! Go ahead and turn it up... I dare ya! Congratulations Joey! This was out of the box if a mortgage post ever was!
3rd Place for 500 points is awarded to
for Queer Eye For The Straight Borrower: How Mortgage Planners and Wardbrobe Consultants Are SimilarThe man in braces, Mr. Brian Brady, shows us how to obtain a smart mortgage and what NOT to wear in his clever and fashionable piece about what to consider when obtaining a mortgage.
CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS!
Finally, a nod goes out to Angelina Jolie for her unexpected guest appearance in two of the entries. Sorry - no Angie pics on my post! * * * Thank you to all who met this challenge with your wonderful entries. Please don't miss a single one! In no particular order...
mortgage creative writing challenge: A Tale of the Seven Dwarfs from Snow "Mortgage" White's perspective - 03/31/08 11:14 AM mortgage creative writing challenge: The pros and cons of a mortgage broker - 03/29/08 09:42 AM mortgage creative writing challenge: A Consumers View on Things - 03/27/08 05:37 PM mortgage creative writing challenge: Refinancing, bank, and the crazy rules - 03/28/08 10:26 AM mortgage creative writing challenge: Views From The FBIs Padded Room - 03/27/08 03:30 PM mortgage creative writing challenge: I Want to Buy a Home. Where Do I Go From Here? - Part 2 - 03/27/08 09:05 AM mortgage creative writing challenge: An old book and an old man in the Mortgage business - 03/26/08 10:08 AM mortgage creative writing challenge: Daytona Beach Homebuyer's Financing Advice From Your Real Estate Professional! - 03/26/08 08:32 AM mortgage creative writing challenge: I Want to Buy a Home. Where Do I Go From Here? - Part 1 - 03/26/08 08:27 AM mortgage creative writing challenge: The History of the subprime implosion.......... - 03/22/08 07:39 AM mortgage creative writing challenge: Ask The Underwriter: Appraisal Review Part 1 - 02/11/08 12:49 PM
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Entries were judged in three categories: Creativity and Originality of Content, Actual Mortgage Information, and Lay-out and Staging. Our five judges were Myself, Jason Sardi, Bill Archambault, Marc Grossman and guest appearance by Andrew Lenza. A hearty thanks to each of them for their hard work and thoughtful consideration of each entry!
Ask and Ye Shall Receive: Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge Extension...Asking nicely almost always works with me. And begging is an almost surefire pass to getting about anything your heart may desire. So when several potential entrants into the Mortgage Creative Writing Contest approached Jason Sardi and myself with a request for a short extension of our contest deadline, we agreed. Why? Because it's the end of the month and many of you have closing deadlines tomorrow. Something we can both understand. After all, business is why we're here in the first place. Ok, some of us anyway! CONTEST ENTRY DEADLINE IS EXTENDED TO NOON ON SUNDAY, MARCH 30TH WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 31ST All other rules remain unchanged: First prize will be awarded 1000 points and be Featured on ActiveRain and in Localism! Second Prize will be awarded 750 points Third Prize will be awarded 500 points All other entries will receive 200 points*
Give us your best, most dazzlingly creative, and most informative mortgage post ever! You don't need to be in the mortgage business to enter, as evidenced by some of the terrific posts that have been entered so far. See them here: Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge Entries
Entries will be scored on the following elements with each category weighted equally: Category 1 - Creativity/Originality of Content & Subject Matter Category 2 - Actual Mortgage Info helping Customers & Realtors alike; Relevance to Today's Market. Category 3 - Readability/Lay-out, alas the Staging of the Post.
And finally, keep in mind the following rules.... 1. You may enter as many posts as you like, but it must be completely original and authored by you. 2. Submit your post to Localism and any other groups you choose. 3. You must include the following Tag: Mortgage Creative Writing Challenge.... if you don't, you haven't entered the contest. 4. Bribing the judges will disqualify your entry - unless it's some serious cash! :) 5. DEADLINE for submitting entries is Friday, March 28th. 6. Winners will be announced Sunday, March 30th and the winning post will be re-presented here. 7. Only 200 points will be awarded per PERSON regardless of the number of entries submitted - with the exception of the Winners.
If you have any questions at all or simply wish to send chocolate our way, feel free to email Jason or myself!
Time For A Baby!It's no big secret that I’m sweet on babies. It’s pretty much all I dream about lately… to have my own little "Baby J". Girl or boy, it doesn’t really matter. And no, I’m not making any big announcements. Just yet. But if I were, I couldn’t be in a better place to give birth.
 The secret is out: My beautiful Pdx is the best place to have a baby, according to FitPregnancy Magazine’s recent report on the nation’s top cities for giving birth. While this is high praise, it’s not surprising given our strong ‘Mama culture’ and our innate understanding that we, as women, were made for this. Our progressive local attitudes empower each woman to choose her delivery options, setting the stage for a joyful, safe, and meaningful birthing experience. We place high value on assuring a smooth and healthy welcome to our brand new baby Portlanders. Consider Portland’s birthing report card:
My little guy once upon a time..... A Long, Long Time
No perfect holiday gathering, I hold on tight |
Portland Oregon Real Estate Broker * Jennifer Bukaty * Portland, OR More about me… RE/MAX equity group, inc. Office Phone: (503) 495-4824 Cell Phone: (503) 974-1570 Email Me
A tiny glimpse inside my toy chest full of ideas and experiences on buying and selling real estate in metropolitan Portland Oregon.
;) Links;) Tags (Tag Cloud);) Archives
|
Posted by 
I have been observed, on one or two occasions, sitting on a mound of inky compost in my own sentient garden, whispering sweet nothings to my peonies and gentle enticements to the wallflowers. I know why I do this and so do they. A handmade poem, a bit of encouragement, or the telling of a titillating secret all contribute to our co-creative effort. Esthetic encouragement to their growth. A bit of practice for me.
But there are predators in every garden. They have come and gathered him up like so many weeds … disenchanted by one who no longer produces flowers, but instead, requires staking and special care. Out with the old and in with the new. Such is the vanity of the human garden.
By unanimous agreement, the judges hereby award a well-deserved Honorable Mention to 
And for sheer comedy, we wish to recognize 
YOU WANT MONEY?
I have often wondered why it is we believe we can "own" real estate. Somewhere, there are Real Estate Gods, and they are laughing their heads off. They know the truth: we don't own real estate. It owns us.
I work for a mortgage broker but I am going to give you an insight into the difference between a bank and a mortgage broker.
I've been watching as the housing and mortgage industry has been in "crisis" It has brought a few questions to mind that I'd like to ask. 
I've tried writting ths 5 times for Jason Sardi and Jennifer Bukaty's Creative Writing Challenge. Not as cool as Joey Aszterbaum, Joe Adams or Mike Mueller - as it's not not fiction and it's not a funny subject - but the people who targeted us for fraud (over 3 million dollars) were DEFINATELY Creative! ...
From the Desk of Don Draughn, Mortgage Professional
Call NOW and for only $199.95 we will send you this wonderful blog called "Welcome to Mortgage Terms for Dummies", otherwise known as plain talk. With this handy dandy reference guide you can be talking like a mortgage geek within hours. Amaze and stun your Realtor friends when you toss out ...
Life seems to roll by faster...faster than ever before, heck microwaves and computers sometimes are not fast enough. Because our lives move so rapidly we sometime make quick decisions and in the long run end up costing us our time, energy and money. It's those occasions where you wish that you ...
After a long week, I decided to take a break and watch a mindless DVD. I took one of my favorites from the shelf and popped it in. "The history of the world...part I" was my selection. It was typical Mel Brooks humor. Fact delightfully spun from a different perspective. After ...
Appraisals are under UNDER ATTACK! Okay, I may be exaggerating but I've been blog searching for the last week and I think I can probably get a few high fives when I say they are being scrutinized! 
Now that my adorable little boy isn’t so little anymore, I find myself longing for another tiny sweet pea. And if there's one thing I do know for sure, it's that once pregnant, we have an unbreakable appointment to meet a stranger. So while I don’t know exactly when that appointment will be … I do know where. Because as it happens, I’m already in the perfect place.
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.
© 2007 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
