Being Consistent
Consistency and practicing your core fundamentals is a strong trait to have. Many times especially in this business professionals tend to become cumbersome in following through a complete transaction process and tend to find shortcuts or alternatives in doing their job. I have had recently came across golden opportunities through the misfortunes of my competition in their costly mistakes.
One client was 90% done with the purchase process with another lender and during the closing conditions of the loan (homework that needs to be done before closing a loan) The client was asked to provide bank statements showing reserves. The client gives the statements to the lender and the loan officer blindly submits the bank statements without reviewing them first unexpectedly showing bounced checks and ultimately turning down the loan. There was a good reason for the bounced checks and if handled correctly before submission, could of saved the deal by providing an alternative account statement. Lucky for me I was able to save the day and get the loan done for the client.
Another client lost out on a purchase offer due to not addressing a standard question int he beginning when 1st taking the application. The client went through the whole loan transaction not knowing he had a DTI (debt to income) ratio that was not addressed by the lender by asking a simple question if he pays any child support or alimony. The client's child support was over $800 dollars a month and really affected the client's ability to repay the loan therefore delaying the loan process in trying to find exceptions. When the Seller got a hold of the news, the Seller pulled the plug and offered the house to another client due to the delays of the closing and mis-communication from the very beginning. Lucky for my once again I was able to capitalize on the other Loan Officer mistake and closed the loan.
Doing your job, being consistent, and not trying to cut corners may sound too OBVIOUS and a "DUH" reaction but there are professionals still out there that does not practice these efforts and can ultimately be deal breakers. 5 Tips in Virginia Beach To Save Money And Enjoy Summer
Lets face it, we all can save a little bit more money nowadays with the increase in economy rises but that doesn't mean it will buzzkill our summer. Here locally in Virginia Beach is just 5 simple tips to save some money and still have fun. 1.) Local Gym - If all the fancy Gyms and work out centers are too much try looking into your local Recreation Center. There is a local City built Recreation center in almost every neighborhood and county. I currently use the Princess Anne Rec Center and I only paid $35 for the whole year!! That saves alot when compared to $50 a month at premium centers.
2.) Local Beach - Down by the oceanfront is the most famous of all our beaches. This can be a huge tourist trap and many times offend the locals by the crowds and high parking fees. All the real locals know about the "Local Spots" like Sandbridge and Croatan these wonderful beaches are not even 15 minutes away from the oceanfront. The parking fees are WAY CHEAP especially if your a local and you can always find a spot to relax and have fun on these beaches. Check these hidden gems out, well worth it.
3.) Crabbing - Many times we pay too much for things we can get on our own. People pay up to $30 dollars for a pound of crab. Want to know how the locals crab for way cheaper? It's simple. All you need is a net, string with weight and chicken legs. Tie the chicken leg to your string with a sinker/weight at the bottom. Throw your string with chicken under a pier (I usually go to Lhynhaven Shores) Slowly bring in your string and BAM a crab attaches his pinchers on your chicken leg for you to scoop up! This has been very fun to do in summer and saves me money by not buying crabs in bulk!
4.) Theme Parks / Concerts - This is quite obvious but most locals still don't do this. Because we are locals in the area we get discounts to our local theme parks or concert venues by buying the passes for the whole year. Just talk to your local ticket master.
5.) HRT MAX - HRT stands for Hampton Roads Transit those white buses we see all the time but what most people don't know is that HRT has a new bus system designed specifically for Metro and Work travel. Just check out the map below. You can save a lot on GAS this way too!
So there you have it, hope you could of used one of these tips and thanks for stopping by!
Back from a break
Just an update to the blogosphere, it's been about a month since I last blogged on here. Thanks for all the kind responses and messages I received, nothing bad happened here. I purposely took a full month break from blogging and work overload. Sometimes in this business you just have to step back and enjoy life and stop to smell the roses. I actually had a really great month last month and I pushed myself really hard to accomplish that. It's good to take a break sometimes and even though I could of just wrote a few blogs here and there or did a few side jobs at work last month..... I chose not to, this doesn't mean I lost motivation or the drive because my drive is always here. Personal things in my life with Family, Friends and Loved Ones I just chose to focus more on specifically and who knows maybe once again in the future I might take another break. So expect to see more blogs here real soon and thanks for checking in, see ya around :)
Multi-Task Social Networks, Im's & E-mail Accounts With Digsby
With Social Networking on the Rise and plenty of new sites out there to get yourself more exposure and more in the mix with all the online Buzz, it seem that it's harder to keep up with all your Social Networks than joining one.
Combination Clients I recently began my crusade by joining as many Social Networks and Social Media out there. The problem is I rarely have time to jump from site to site to check update, to do updates and basically maintain the networks. The main contenders are Instant Message Clients like Yahoo Messenger, Aim, AOL, MSN and Google Talk. I
This didn't solve the problem with the real time updates though and I don't like clogging up my phone with texts. So I tried using Twhirl, which is a cool client but still I wanted more consolidation.
So as you can see I do alot of bouncing around and sometimes can be very time consuming. I found the perfect client for ALL of my accounts into one client. The client is fairly new just being only a few months old and is still improving.
The Power Of Digsby (http://www.digsby.com)
The Pop-Ups The Best and Most important thing Digsby does is it allows small pop-ups to appear and disappear in the lower left hand corner of your screen making you multi-task better without interrupting your work. If it's an important alert like new mail your waiting for you can tab quickly over the alert, which will allow you to view the message and can quickly delete or respond to go back to what your were doing before.
The Verdict Overall I am very happy with my new toy and I believe I just shaved 1-2 hours of my Social Media Time everyday. Let's face it, time is money and we should spend more time with our family,friends,clients and less time playing catch up on all our Social Media. Hope this device helps you become just a tad bit organized, thoughts and feedback encouraged! What do you think?
________________________________________________________________________ Just-In-Time's Word on the Web
Google & Digg Hook-Up Might Give Real Estate An Extra Boost
Marissa Mayer known as Google's Princess is the VP of the Search Engine dept of Google. Kevin Rose known as the Playboy of the Webhead World is the founder of Digg.com The Word on the Web: Few days ago this couple have been in talks behind closed doors, not Romantically, both are currently dating other people, but behind a secret deal. The word on the street is that Google's Princess is trying to push for Digg's buyout priced at $200 Million How will this marriage work? Apparently Google is still trying to improve Google News lately and with the success of Digg's Social bookmark Popularity. Last month Google and Digg have confirmed a deal in the works but nothing else has leaked out since then. Future Possibilities: Google has been trying to get a piece of the highly popular social networking platforms. They have been using Myspace over the years as an ad source. Digg can help increase Google's search results because Digg is based on user's content whats hot and what's not worth reading. This can vastly change the search results in the future. How this affects us in Real Estate: So you might be thinking well what does this have to do with us in Real Estate? Quite Simple; Search Engine Optimization. We as professionals are putting massive effort in online exposure and marketing. If you haven't been using Social Bookmarks yet, your missing the boat. Social Bookmarks gives more of an importance factor and meaning when its hyped in the blogosphere. This is why Google find's Diggs platform so useful Got a Good Post on Real Estate? Got Juicy News about Real Estate? Just imagine once this buyout takes place, your noteworthy posts that have been extremely useful on AR will also get more exposure to the world. Digg is just that powerful. Here's a heads up if you haven't played around with Digg.com yet, I suggest you do so, once this train starts moving, you don't want to be left in the dust.
________________________________________________________________________ Just-In-Time's Word on the Web
FHA 203k Streamline vs 203k Full RenovationRenovation Lending The main concept behind these loans a.k.a Rehab, Renovation, 203k and Home Improvement loans is quite simple, clients who wants to finance the costs of home improvements through the mortgage for a purchase or refinance. Financing the costs of the home improvements through the mortgage can be cheaper than high interest credit cards, emergency savings and high interest unsecured loans.
Don't worry about the appraised value if the house is in bad shape, the loan is based on the after improved value of your improvements. Typically these loans can close in 30-45 days, with contract work started within 30 days of closing. Whats the difference between the 203k Streamline and Full Renovation?
FHA 203k Streamline
Rennovation Specialist Renovation programs are great for 1st time home buyers providing solutions for needs and wishes into reality.
With Foreclosures and short-sales on the rise, many homes on the market need a lot of T.L.C and most of the time the previous owner had not taken complete care with the home, this is repair the 203k loan can shine for you.
Remember, not all Mortgage Professionals offer 203k Loans. Consult with a Renovation Specialist who can guide you through the decision in Streamline vs Full Renovation. By the way...I offer both :)
______________________________________________________ Just-In-Time Loans - Mortgage Needs and Advice on Time. (757-228-3668)
Ability Camp Fundraiser For Cerebral Palsy June 23rd to August 22nd
A client of mine Scott Doverspike, who I known ever since I got in the Mortgage Business 5 years ago, reached out to me asking for assistance in raising funds for his son Tyler. Tyler was born prematurely with lungs not fully developed. This has caused lack of oxygen reaching the brain damaging his motor skills and speech. This condition is known as Cerebral Palsy and currently there is no known cure. It is a non-progressive disorder, meaning the brain damage does not worsen, but secondary orthopedic difficulties are common. CP is the second-most expensive developmental disability to manage over the course of a person's lifetime (second to mental disabilities), with an average lifetime cost per person of $921,000. Scott is a hardworking Single father and is going through a rough financial hardship right now. Currently Mr. Doverspike had to let go of his beautiful house which was equipped specifically for his son and just trying to make ends meet.
About Tyler
His father tries to make his life as normal as possible encouraging Tyler to play with kids his age and not letting his handicap keep him from having a normal life. Tyler enjoys playing Challenger baseball , swimming is a favorite and he also loves to go to Dick's Sporting Good Store where the employees aid him in rock climbing. Scott has commented "I will take him go-carting allowing him to experience going around the track with his friends the lifting in and out of the cars can be fatiguing but it is always worth it."
Fundraising for the Ability Camp Mr. Doverspike has taken Tyler to see conventional specialists and physical therapy but has not seen any noticeable differences. With the help of The Pediatric Life Skills Specialists, they understand Cerebral Palsy is not about correcting brain damage but more on focusing about the body and muscles improving to find alternative ways to perform everyday tasks that may seem simple but extremely difficult for Tyler. This type of new therapy is known as Conductive Education and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which helps with motor skills and stimulate more oxygen to the brain. The camp at the PLSS starts June 22nd and is a 8 week program that cost $600 per week for a total of $4,800 dollars. The special conductors are elite specialists flown from Europe and arrive on the 20th of June .
Contact Information
If you can help donate or support Mr. Doverspike and his son Tyler, please feel free to contact below. If you do help donate remember your support is tax deductible and most employers have a matching gift program that can help double your gift. Feel free to contact me aswell if needed. Thank for your support, your gift does make a DIFFERENCE!
Date: 06/22/08 - 08/22/08 Program Manager: Judith (616) 813-9915 cell or (757) 455-9240 for the camp. Sponsored Child: Tyler Doverspike Email: information info@pedlifeskills.org Scott Doverspike cell (757) 692-5312 A Time to Emerge From Our Past and Move Forward With Change
Today was my beautiful's Daughter Graduation for the 4yr Old Class at The Wave Children's Learning Center. Thinking back how much she grown and how fast they grow up has really made me a proud Father. It's moment like these you cherich and reflect how much your child's life impacts you. Graduation is a time to celebrate the forthcoming of one phase of life to another. So true in life whether we are just starting out as Real Estate Professionals or graduating from a renter to homeowner, the graduation process or progression of life changes is to move forward. During the ceremony they announced the children's name meaning and what they want to be when they grow up. This reminded me of how many changes we all went through, I can remember when I wanted to be a Fireman at my Daughter's age and how many times have that changed throughout my life. We can't predict the future and we have to embrace the unknown. We all sat in pure joy and laughter watching a picture slide of all the wonderful school year memories. It's great to see the innocence of children's laughter and joy coming from a time of where no worries of work, money and responsibility. This is the purest form of life, happiness and laughter. Makes me realize that if we all try to capture our children's hearts we all might be in a better world. At last, the finale all the little ones cheered and jumped for joy after they got their diploma. The symbolism of success and accomplishment also holds true in life. Many times we reach for that status symbol of the fancy car, the fancy boat or fancy clothes, but many times we tend to forget that a diploma is just a piece of paper the real success and accomplishment is in you and to me the biggest success is my Daughter. It's not goodbye, but hello to the future and farewell to the past. Memories will not be forgotten and new memories will be made. Heres to thinking positive to what life throws at us for the future, we can't change the past and can only change what we can do now and for the future. So let's not dwell on our mistakes and focus on learning from them instead and let's make the next phase of our lives a good one.
My 100th Blog Post!
As you can tell with my title above this will be my 100th Blog Post on Activerain! Time to pop open the champagne bottle and make some room for cake. I know it may seem small only being my 100th Blog Post compared to other Veteran Bloggers out there, but I have only been on Activerain for 4 months now and I am very HAPPY and PROUD to celebrate my 100th Blog Post on here!! To help commerate this blogging mile stone, I have incorporated the blogging tradition of some recaps and future goodies for review.
My Top 3 Favorite Bloggers on Activerain Although I have many great bloggers out there I have 3 in mind when they come to my favorites. Brad Andersohn - Brad's Blogs is very informative and it's no wonder why he is on the Activerain Staff. I just love all his blogs. He posts about Real Estate, Technology and even his talent in Music. Brad never ceases to Amaze me. Mary McKnight (Rebloggirl) - This girl knows her stuff and she really impresses me with her knowledge and advice on online exposure through RSS/SEO/SEM. May be geeky but I love it! Marti Garaughty - The Activerain Group Author of The Art Of Marketing You. Marti is a great artist and really delivers his blog posts with the marketing week in review. He really does go above and beyond Group's Expectations and I really do appreciate that.
Quick Stats Number of times My Profile viewed: 1431 Number of Subscriptions to My Blog: 34 Featured Posts: 1 Members Invited/Referred: 9 Rank in Virginia Beach City County: 4 Comments Received: 898 Comments Made: 851
Activerain Success Well there's no secret here Activerain has played a huge part in my success.
What's in store for the Future?
In Closing.... In closing with this 100th blog post has given me an opportunity to reflect on what I have learned, accomplished and future improvements.
Here's to meeting fellow bloggers, making new friends, and the next 100 posts! See you at 101 post!!
Returning Phone Calls Spells Success
I just had an interesting week of coming across misfortunes of clients who had explained to me that the effort in their Mortgage Broker / Loan Officer getting back in touch with them or even to touch base was unbelievable. I know we are not at a time where business is too much to handle or that we portray ourselves as the part time experts where we only get back to clients at our convenience. I do understand that its nearly impossible to be available to recieve every phone call and will inevitably reach your voice mail at some point, but when are you going to return the phone call?
I am never too busy to return your call
Last week I had a client out of state that talked to a total of 4 Mortgage Professionals, 3 were local in his state and I was the only out of state lender. All of us pre-approved the client pretty close to the same figures as everyone else. The client had some specific questions and options to ask and was not getting a fast turn around and effort from the 3 local guys. I was able to clarify and answer all of the questions the client had in a timely fashion and was always available to return his calls within the hour. The client of course went with me because he told me point blank that the other Lenders lack of effort in returning phone calls made him feel like he was a waste of their time to them.
I will never leave you in the dark and always keep you informed
Now end of last month, My client recently closed on a purchase transaction and was telling me about his older brother's Loan Experience up north in Winchester. The transaction was not going smoothe at all because the client was a having a difficult time in communicating with the mortgage broker. The client would leave numerous voicemails and getting nervous because he didn't know how much he can qualify for when looking for houses. This of course makes the Real Estate Agent and the Buyer in the Dark. Well my client that just recently closed told me to review with his Brother to see what I can find out. Turns out the Brother was below the minimum fico requirement for the lender, and the broker was trying to do a rapid rescore without checking in with the client. Thats Great hes trying to raise his scores but do ALWAYS keep your customer in the loop. Bottom line was I was able to pre-approve the Brother because I didn't have the min. fico score required for my guideline.
Returning Phone Calls Is Not An Option So there you have it 2 transactions lost due to lack of communication and returning phone calls. There is no option, you must do this!!
Want to talk more about this? CALL ME, I may not pick up at the moment and may get my voicemail but you BETCHA I will call you back shortly!! :) |
Justin Williams - Loan Officer Virginia Beach, VA More about me… Prosperity Mortgage Office Phone: (757) 228-3668 Cell Phone: (757) 692-3464 Email Me ;) Links;) Tags (Tag Cloud);) Archives
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have about 3 Screen names each with a different service for different use. 
but I already can tell I need help organizing these networks soon.
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Tyler is always happy and very outgoing pulling up to people in his power chair and saying "hi" and waiting patiently with a smile to respond with a "fine". He is limited to a very few simple answers.
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