Brian P.'s Blog

There's No "I" in Loan!

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:38:25 -0500

I am very thorough at my job. I analyze every piece of data I am given, undercover every possibility, and work to identify the right product for every borrower. But with all my expertise and hard won knowledge, the work to actually close a deal has quadrupled over the last year and a half. And I know that story is the same for all you Realtors out there.

There are tremendous opportunities for buyers as we all know; opportunities from extraordinary prices to low interest rates to the new and improved down payment assistance disguised as an $8000 tax credit.

But Fannie Mae can leverage any little reason not to purchase a loan from lenders. Everything that gets reviewed for submission has to be completed down to the very last period. It's almost like getting points taken off for sloppiness or misconduct in grade school.

Even the strongest of loans can be very fragile now and have several points of failure. So everyone's got to be careful who handles their loan and Realtors need to be careful about what potential buyers are getting into their car. When we triple-check everything and watch one another's backs, we shall succeed.

Down Payment Assistance

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:53:44 -0500

OK, so just add me to the endless list of bloggers blogging about the $8000 tax credit turned additional down payment/pay down option/closing costs supplement. I do say "hooray!" to this assistance as it will help get more people back into homeownership. My customer roster alone has as many true first time homebuyers as buyers who have not owned a home in over three years. I've attached a link to some additional tax credit info from HUD.

There is just the caveat that the buyer still needs to come up with the 3.5% minimum that is required of FHA insured loans. This is in keeping with HUD's philosophy that caused them to yank seller funded down payment assistance last October.

I've always been a huge proponent of having "skin in the game" and this opportunity is no exception. But when the confetti has settled, I still want to understand how this is going to work logistically. It is not very clear how these funds will be tracked or represented or paid back since they can potentially fill a void in several different scenarios monitored by several different institutions and industries.

I know that every journey starts with one small step; I just want to make sure we don't get lost this time.

Broker-Client Confidentiality

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:48:15 -0500

There are lines that professionals just don't cross....regardless of who asks. On several occasions I've had Realtors question me; no, interrogate me when the client they are representing does not make the financial grade to qualify for a mortgage.

I understand how disappointing it is for an agent to hear this news (another reason to only show homes to buyers that are pre-qualified) but if I advise the parties in a deal that the buyers are not approved at that point in time; I'm telling the truth!

Believe me, I have a vested interest in a buyer being approved too, but if they're not, they're not. And according to all that is legal and ethical, a client's personal financial data is personal. So an agent wanting information disclosed to them so they can "be sure" that their client doesn't qualify and they "want proof" of the results, just ain't gonna happen. It's just wrong. And so are they.

Downpayment Assistance

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:08:04 -0500

I just don't know about this first time homebuyer tax credit turned down payment possibility. Are we going down the right path here?

I'm all for opportunities for buyers and I think it is great that this credit may possibly be used to initiate a real estate transaction but.....let's not forget the seller funded down payment assistance that HUD did away with because of the perception that it breeds a higher rate of delinquency. As I've said before, if you've got no skin in the game; you may take the responsibility a little more lightly.

So are we seeing the rumblings of the types of "opportunities" that contributed to the subprime meltdown? Or are we assisting buyers to buy and getting the housing market out of the huge sinkhole that it's in? If you don't have the money for a down payment, does that mean you should be able to afford to do something?

Obviously there are many questions that I have and the Department of Housing and Urban Development must have more which I guess is why we've got no final determination on how or if this "liquefied tax credit" will see the light of a closing table. I found it a little interesting how HUD announced the program then back tracked a day later and pulled the guidelines from their website.

So let's see what happens...as soon as I get some legitimate info I'll pass it along. Never hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions about any of this stuff!

The Back Office is the Forefront of Success

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:00:16 -0500

This is not a paid promotional announcement for Tri-County Mortgage; but sometimes you get an opportunity to gain a little perspective on your company.

In a recent state-mandated licensing course I had occasion to spend time with peers in my industry; and horror stories abounded! While it is true that a good horror story beats a nice-guy-finishes-first tale for impact alone.....I heard accounts of companies that just didn't support their loan originators on the front line...at all!

Sure as I sit here typing, you are only as good as your back office support and management. I am with a firm that literally supports my efforts 110%. I do know what I am doing and I am a skilled professional but I am also successful because of the efforts and the due diligence executed daily by this team of people.

Tri-County is not my first mortgage company experience. I know when an organization cares about its people, customers and business partners. Tri-County people actually walk the talk. You've gotta have each others' backs in this business...it is the only way to get the home buyer a fair and reasonable opportunity to buy a house.

The HVCC Dance

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:19:35 -0500

Like some twisted tango we go one step forward and sixteen back. This dance with Freddie and Fannie has to stop somewhere!

At this point, no one doesn't know about the new Home Valuation Code of Conduct. Bottom line: this whole thing just adds up to another roadblock in the path of home buyers and homeowners!

I've attached a link to the document from Freddie Mac but the bottom line is this new law (which applies to conventional loans only) cites that the appraisal needs to be ordered from the actual lender through an appraisal management company. Some of the impacts are as follows:

· Mortgage brokers are not allowed to communicate with the appraiser

· No "rushes" can really be accommodated

· The appraisal charge can vary wildly dependant on which appraisal management company is next in the rotation

· Trainees may very well be the go-to resources as the management companies will retain up to 50% of the fees

· An erosion of veteran appraisers in the field as they may not buy into doing double the work for the same income

· No more real check and balance system will be in effect

· If appraisal comes in and is not right, the consumer may be paying twice

And besides:

· Where's the regulation of the appraisal management companies supposed to come from?

· Where's the consistency in fees and in valuations from lender to lender?

· Where's the quality control between appraisal management companies?

Is this really the time to knowingly insert a communication breakdown when some assessments are a little delicate now? I'm not getting it.

So to all you Realtors out there, I strongly urge you to meet the appraiser at the property to let he or she know how you arrived at your offer. And as I get answers I will pass them along. We'll have to see how this plays out and keep in touch. Let me know what you think.

Refinancing

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:58:39 -0500

No mystery...I'm a numbers guy. I understand them and I respect the principle that they either add up or they don't. While they can be interpreted within the confines of a certain context, there is nothing subjective about numbers.

In the face of the "re-fi frenzy", the current value of a home, the amount owed, the equity taken out (either intentionally or due to market conditions), and the good ‘ol FICO are all elements in a picture. These factors translate into numbers and these numbers are the bottom line that yields the final story. Straight up and down, your financial picture is an equation; plug in the data and press the button.

So while it's true that numbers are as they appear; the only true variable is how we color them with our own perceptions and our own personal barometers.

In summation, (no pun intended!), taking your numbers out for a spin is worth the time; but it is the truth that will prevail. Numbers don't lie.

It's Not Enough

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:52:15 -0500

With all political agendas and allegiances aside, all I've got to say to the President and his administration's attempts to help homeowners in trouble is, "Nice try, big fella!" There is certainly a movement in the right direction, but Florida mortgagors are contending with 30% differentials in their "upside-down-ness!"

I understand that the situation is a complex one with implications that reach beyond the borders of the genesis of our recession. I understand that no one thing is going to fix everything.

But the majority of the people who are struggling to make their payments and who are dramatically upside down are not really being provided with a working solution in Florida. And I'm still not down with the bad behavior being rewarded syndrome! I am not seeing legitimate support of the people who are making the concerted effort.

It is sorta like the disruptive kids in class who receive all the attention and drain the strength (or the dollars in the case of the housing market) out of the teacher. The kids who are trying and who want to succeed are left to tolerate the potential squandering of focus and efforts on the wrong segment of the classroom population. I am just not seeing the equality in the equation.

A Bidding What???

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:07:43 -0500

So I was visiting my Dad down on his farm in Georgia over the Easter holidays. I received a call from Lori Crawford who is an extraordinary Realtor with whom I do business. She said, "Brian, I need your help. I've got a bidding war going on over a property." The first thoughts in my head: "You have a bidding what??" Haven't heard that term in a while! But Lori was contacting me to see how much higher her clients could bid on the property based on their file which I had pre-approved. And it was because she was representing one of the parties in a bidding war!!!

This does go to show that if people price their home to move, then so shall they move...on, that is...to another house!

So while everything isn't fixed in this market, stuff is happening! The market is not back to true normalcy but we have activity! And let's face it, it took a long time to get here; it will take a while to get back! But I do like the fact that I got a phone call on a weekend because a great agent was in the throes of a bidding frenzy! A step for certain in the right direction....

Loan Turnaround Times

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:57:50 -0500

Yes, it has come to this....we need 45 days on all loans! I am talking about all products (Conventional and Government loans) across the board, the worm has turned. As far as FHA and VA for example, I have a lender with files that were turned in on February 26^th but were not slated for submission to an underwriter until March 26^th. Although "individual results may vary" as the saying goes, I do have lenders that have quicker underwriting times but this is still not a bad expectation to set for clients.

The reasons for the increase in underwriting times:

The collapse of other lenders like Equifirst which meant their loans had to migrate over to other institutions
The first time home buyer credit has sparked many new sales
FHA lowered their loan to value on cash out refinances as of April 1^st
Big spike in mortgage rate re-finance applications because of lower rates

So even though we got a little spoiled for a while with a quicker underwriting turnaround, most of the reasons for the delay are due to bottlenecking, and bottlenecking is due to more applications, and more applications mean consumer confidence. And that's a worm we want to see turn!

Leveraging Investors

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:49:09 -0500

OK, I have said some disparaging things about Fannie Mae in the past, and with justification. But when they do wake up and smell the coffee, I'm buying!

Fannie Mae now understands that investors, (the real ones, not the hairdresser who moonlights as a property maven!), can be a contributing factor to the recovery of the housing market.

Fannie Mae has eased up on the stipulation that a person cannot finance another investment property or 2^nd home if they currently own more than four financed properties in total. They have updated the limit to ten and are instituting guidelines that are going to separate valid investors from the garden variety type. Investors now need:

Six months of loan payments in reserve for each financed property per investor
A down payment of 25% for each property
A FICO of 720 or higher

So instead of the no money down, insufficient reserves, and inexperience (to name just three of the factors that contributed to the investor/speculator contribution to the housing catastrophe), Fannie Mae is taking a stand by financially vetting the investor and making it possible for the genuine ones to sop up some of the sales in this housing glut!

Loan Modification

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:00:06 -0500

OK - I don't want to incur anyone's wrath here but I am just trying to make a point - bear with me! In lending, I understand the necessity of changing with changing times and staying current on trends.* It is part of remaining at the top of your business game. Successful business people need to know how to adapt to the environment.

But how do you become an expert at something when you constantly jump from one flavor of the month to the next? No one can become an expert on a flavor if it is retired in 31 days (or six months). Frankly, we stumble pretty frequently over these loans that are new for us! Lending is a very intricate process these days. And part of my success is that I have remained focused on the products that work the best and that have longevity.

Besides, why expend precious time on learning something that is so fast fleeting? You'll never build the relationships and the knowledge base needed to really make it work. Is it the outside chance of making a buck on it? Well, that's not for me; I focus single-mindedly on building the requisite relationships and learning every nuance of how to creatively make certain products work to advantage my client. This is especially critical given the shrinking loan guidelines! I am very pragmatic in my approach and that style has served me well.

I have pontificated before about the importance of amassing as much knowledge as possible about loan products to provide the best service possible and to position your clients for success. The only thing that trumps knowledge is relationships. That point is indisputable and does not have an expiration date.

*(See Loan Officers who have become loan modification people)

Verification of Employment

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:49:10 -0500

All you Realtors out there know as well as I do that the devil is in the details. An issue I had this week was case in point. After application review and analysis I received both written verifications of employment (the borrower had a full-time and a part-time job).

The hourly rate and the number of hours was less than what was indicated on the paystubs received at application because the borrower had worked fewer hours since receipt of the stubs. I had to reconcile the fewer hours worked to the paystubs provided and let the underwriter know what was happening. This meant I needed time to investigate and explain to the underwriter the reason for the incongruity. It's one thing if I had a week or two to finish but they were trying to close in two days!

I understand that it is my job to make loans happen under often crazy deadlines. So through a more in-depth investigation, I was able to confirm that the borrower had a long history of successfully working two jobs simultaneously. I was therefore able to get the loan approved by the underwriter and keep everything rolling.

The thing is...this isn't always going to work out every time and in enough time. What we all need to understand is that when a hitch is found in the information provided by the borrower (which happens more than we care to see!), we need sufficient time to compensate and dig deep and salvage the deal. What we really need is at least 30 days to close from the effective date. It is not what everyone wants to hear but it is better to have elbow room to fix the flaws than have a closing not see the light of day.

Equifirst

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:02:19 -0600

Where's the Sense?

The other day we found out that Barclays Bank closed Equifirst - another plug pulled on a lender. The reason cited for the closure was ‘market conditions.' The only good news is that even though Equifirst is not accepting new applications, they are following through with current commitments.

Unfortunately, this particular bank was in the rational and coherent category; probably one of the best FHA-only banks. Now what happens as common sense continues to leave the market place?? Well, I can tell you that it ain't good...

I know that a bank closing no longer qualifies as a rare news story; some of this is inevitable. But, it truly becomes a loss when the financial institution is one that knows how to really evaluate a borrower's situation, underwrite it, and structure it to make the loan work for the client. It is always common sense that will rule the day and if we're not seeing the forest for the trees then we are doomed to wander an empty landscape. Good thing there are still a few of us good guys left!

Knowledge Trumps Everything

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:59:47 -0600

Knowledge trumps everything in the end. You deal with all kinds of personalities in my business. I get a real cross section of attitudes and behaviors. Maybe it is because anything to do with the financial component of a deal causes clients and their Realtors stress.

I understand the time sensitivities of real estate transactions; but I also know that if a Realtor has a general question about a loan product or needs verification about rates it is something that can wait just a bit for an answer if I'm on another call or in a meeting. My expertise is worth the wait, really.

To get impatient about not being responded to immediately and then going to someone else to get an answer, just any answer, is just wrong. If you have to wait for someone to get back to you it is likely because they are busy - busy solving problems and closing loans! A Realtor does himself or herself a disservice by going to the uninformed because ego dictates that you must be paid attention to at a precise moment in time. It is not the squeaky wheel that gets greased...it is the professional who doesn't take a hissy fit that ultimately gets the quality information needed to get their job done... Just had to shout about that for a minute...thanks for letting me vent!

Are condo loans becoming extinct?

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:46:28 -0600

...No, not really; but many lenders are no longer doing them in Florida because of the perceived risk of properties in that class. Unfortunately, so many owners have defaulted on their HOA fees that it creates a financial burden on the rest of the owners and a vicious cycle is perpetuated: defaults, necessitating higher maintenance fees, causing more owners to default.

In addition, most mortgage insurers will not insure condos in Florida if the condo buyer puts less than 20 percent down unless it is an FHA loan. In turn, the stipulations with the FHA loans state that the property must be an owner-occupied primary residence with at least 3.5% down with a mandatory mortgage insurance accompanying down payments in any amount. And topping that off is the fee that is 1.75% of the loan amount paid up front, the old UFMIP (Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium).

Even the doc requirements have changed and can fluctuate based on the borrower's history of course, and who the lender is, and the type of loan, and a sometimes needed attorney opinion of property, and the individual condo association - that's a whole lotta variables!

All is not lost but let's just hope that condos are not next in a long line of endangered species....

Eye Jot

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:22:57 -0600

Stay Tuned...

I guess if you put yourself out there and preach anything you've gotta be prepared when your fan base pounces on ya for not practicing it!

I attended a great marketing seminar last week that was filled with many friends, colleagues, and clients who really beat me up because I haven't been sending my Eye Jot market update messages! I was dealt multiple blows from all sides because I advocate the use of all these great business building technologies that are fun and cheap and easy to use. But I've been busy and I just stopped doing this particular thing because I didn't really have time.

But I received feedback about this decision in no uncertain terms. And it wasn't only because they were ranking on me for being a techno-lender with no techno (well, that too), but because they missed the info I was providing!

So I did not do what I preach about and I paid for it! However, the negative feedback turned out to be a positive reinforcement for a service I was providing - always good to know!

So please advise if you'd like to be added to the recipient list; Brian TV is back!

Loan Level Price Adjustments

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:28:29 -0600

You're Kidding Me Fannie...

Fannie Mae has raised her loan surcharges for fees that are inherent in any conventional loan for the fourth time since April of 2008. These Loan Level Price Adjustments (LLPAs) are assessed based upon certain eligibility or other loan features, such as credit score, loan purpose, occupancy, number of units, product type, etc.

Bear mind, these are all "pre-lender" charges. The whole concept is predicated on risk based pricing. But even if you are a decent risk, you are lining their pockets with these fees.

You are paying Fannie Mae one way or another; either through the percentage tacked on with this adverse market delivery charge or with the compulsory mortgage insurance if you aren't putting enough down. Even a happy FICO can't save you.

You're kidding me Fannie.

Rock and a Hard Place

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:22:59 -0600

I am loving the new RESPA limitations! I never agreed with the squeeze that was put on buyers to use the builder's title company, the builder's mortgage company, and any other builder affiliated settlement service providers. It just completely dismisses competition and turns its back on the free marketplace. And even though buyers are lured with some often hefty incentives, the builders ensnare them in higher interest rates, and more costs, and more fees!

But now RESPA has implemented a new required use provision that eliminates the opportunity for builders to provide incentives to buyers for using their service providers. Builders that violate this RESPA Procedures Act will find themselves slapped with civil penalties as well as criminal prosecution.

Prior to this mandate it was almost impossible for real lenders to compete. All we could provide was our experience and knowledge and better interest rates! But these obvious "assets" paled in the presence of a $10,000 incentive! It was a total amateur hour with these people acting as loan officers when they don't understand the mortgage end of the business and therefore couldn't possibly structure a loan that would be in the best interests of a client.

The Litigation Department of The National Association of Builders is now tasked with going to court on behalf of NAHB. They contend that many of NAHB's builder members either own or maintain joint ventures with mortgage and title companies and that this new rule has taken away a "critical marketing and customer service tool" for their members.

I say they stick to taping and spackling and let the numbers people serve the public in the capacity in which WE are skilled! Next case....

No Gloom and Doom Here

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:51:00 -0600

Amidst all the gloom and doom of the housing market, here I am, busier than I was in the boom between 2004 and 2006! And no, the stack of applications on my desk is not all re-fi paperwork! Actually, less than 8% of my files are requests for refinancing, the rest are mortgages...home buyers who are taking this tremendous market out for a spin! Unfortunately, there will not be as many closings as there are applications on my desk due to appraisal and qualifying issues, but lending options are worth exploring and these people are putting it out there and a lot of them are buying a house this quarter!

I have worked very, very hard to earn the reputation that I have and my client referral numbers are through the roof to be honest. And while of course I am happy for all this business, I am also happy for this hopeful trend. And if I can just help to fan the fire of consumer confidence, then hand me the kerosene, I've got a lighter!

Icarus Swam to Shore

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:54:22 -0600

This post is a follow-up to my previous one about the stress of staking your whole world on one shiny, hand-held device. The same thing that makes technology extraordinary makes it an incredible liability. So I likened myself to Icarus who flew too close to the sun on wings of wax and plummeted into the sea.

Going out of town (with my AT&T Tilt not in synch with present day) and toting hard copies of contacts and appointments was weighing me down to the depths. Stuff happens, but not getting the support you need in these partnered relationships is a whole other thing.

So after being passed around from carrier to manufacturer and from one customer service desk to another; I finally found someone at the manufacturer who thought they could assist (although they originally told me it was a firewall issue). So anyway, this guy ran some additional diagnostics and upgraded the RAM. They he forced the synch and I am back on line and every component is talking to every other component. Fat Boy's World is rockin' and rollin' once again!

The Fix is In

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:03:38 -0600

The role of the FHA has expanded in today's real estate market. They have not only made a comeback, they have recently eased their requirements. Suffice to say; although there are still certain required repairs/conditions, the FHA is not as "nit-picky" as it used to be!

So - the lender is selected, the home search is done, the offer is accepted, and now the weight of moving forward to the guts of the transaction is resting on the appraisal results. But what exactly is he or she looking for that must comply with FHA guidelines? I asked Dean Davy of Davy Property Solutions (727.458.7497). As always, he gave me tremendous insight into what to expect.

First of all, the FHA has made some major changes. The VC sheet was deleted, (this valuation conditions sheet submitted by appraisers was used for purposes of insuring that the property met HUD's minimum property standards). The FHA has also "softened" their stance on repairs. No more trivial ones are necessary. They are however, more concerned with the following:

Safety - Protection of the health and safety of the occupants
Security - Protection of the security of the property (for the FHA insured mortgage)
Soundness - Correction of physical deficiencies or conditions affecting structural integrity

The key areas that you must still look out for regarding FHA repairs are:

Roof integrity (at least 2 years of economic life)
No electrical or plumbing problems
No areas of wood rot or termite infestation
Absence of Settlement problems
Crawl Space must have adequate access to get under home
No Wood-To-Ground connection on exterior walls can exist
No homes can be within "fall-distance" of high tension power lines
Garage door opener must have "auto reverse" mechanism

So good luck on the appraisal! It seems to me that most homes that are subject to consistent and routine maintenance stand an excellent chance to satisfy the person behind the clipboard!

I Get Gitomer

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:12:54 -0600

Hi, my name is Brian and I am a personal development junkie. In all sincerity, I really strive to improve myself both as a person and as a businessman. Fortunately, there are all manner of sources that have created businesses predicated on just this need. They range from the ilk of Chris Farley's motivational speaker Matt Foley to the Jeffrey Gitomers of the world.

I went to see Jeffery Gitomer a couple of weeks ago with my friend and business associate Tara Jacobsen, President of Marketing Artfully. We're still talking about it! Gitomer is the renowned author of books on sales and customer loyalty as well as the founder and president of TrainOne, Inc., which provides classroom and online training in sales, customer loyalty, and personal development. There are many "Gitomer-isms" that I have taken and assimilated in to my own professional dealings. One such states that: "All things being equal, people want to do business with their friends. All things being not quite so equal, people still want to do business with their friends."

Check out his website at www.gitomer.com. I also have to highly recommend Gitomer's Little Green Book of Getting Your Way: How to Speak, Write, Present, Persuade, Influence, and Sell Your Point of View to Others. I gave my personal copy to Tara Jacobsen and although she loved it, it took an inadvertent dive into a puddle of water! So while the message was a bit soggy it was still clear to her! And thanks to Tara for being so kind to step up with a replacement! So Tara, once yours dries out, it will be as good as new and then we both have a copy! Go Gitomer!

Am I Icarus?

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:45:38 -0600

My affinity for technology is well known; it is the subject of at least one blog post a month! I read about it, I buy it, I incorporate it into my business, and I rave about how my productivity and success increases because of it. But did I get greedy? Have I become so totally reliant on technology that I am blind without it? Did I fly too close to the sun on wings of wax and fall into the sea like Icarus because I was soaring so high and so happily? I'm afraid so.

I purchased the AT&T Tilt; probably one of my most favorite devices, ever. My entire world at my fingertips: schedule, communications, tasks, notes (my handwriting is atrocious) and contact lists. I would synch with my Outlook and spend the day in complete accord with the universe. That is, until the synch stopped synching.

In a nutshell, it seemed that a firewall started blocking the transfer of active signals. I could handle that. I followed the trouble shooting guide which ultimately advised that all firewalls be turned off. The problem still remained. I then contacted the support forum to find that I had already followed all their recommended steps to troubleshoot the problem. I contacted Tech Support who advised me to consult the manual. AT&T customer care advised me that AT&T doesn't really manufacture the hardware although their logo is pasted all over everything, so they could not assist. I contacted the "actual manufacturer." They told me to contact Symantec who develops and maintains the firewall. When I finally got through their menu, their client support was not available because it was a weekend. So here I am, still outta synch, with just a VERY expensive telephone (with no contact list). I am going out of town on business and am actually toting a stack of PAPER with contact info, etc in my briefcase so I can stay in touch with the world during my separation from my desktop. (How's that for irony?)

So right before I was tempted to throw my Tilt into the Icarian Sea right after that fallen god; I basically wound up fixing it myself with a little assistance from the hardware manufacturer and got myself back in the game. I have returned to civilization and synchronization! I'll be in touch!

SOFTWARE SUPER HERO

Brian P. Forrester (Tri-County Mortgage) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:14:21 -0600

I think most of you realize by now that I have a strong enthusiasm for technology. Not necessarily just for technologies sake, but specifically to learn and acquire innovations that make my life easier and my business flow smoother. I am always on the lookout and I love to share ones I've found with anyone who'll listen!

Anyway, an associate of mine runs a business writing company named Business Writing, Ink. She recommended the file backup services provided by a company called Mozy. She said they were really affordable and simple to use and offered exactly what she was looking for to store all the web content and brochure/document verbiage that she creates for her clients. Based on her rave review, I purchased it and have happily enjoyed the feeling of security that a contingency plan brings. The only downside was that I actually had the opportunity to test the mettle of this service when my home computer had a meltdown.

After the panic and the subsequent irritation/expense of replacing the hard drive; I sat down to retrieve my files that were "allegedly" waiting out there all encrypted in cyberspace just pending my login and permission to download. What happened? Mozy saved the day! I got it all back: photos, files, digital videos, and all my favorite (and legally acquired!) music.

Worth $5 a month for unlimited storage space? If I never use it again...worth every cent even if I remain a subscriber for the next 20 years. Mozy's the man! I certainly hope this is my last brush with potential data loss but if it's not, I'm covered. As they say about the hardware/software that we rely on SO insanely - it is not a matter of if, but when. Check it out: www.mozy.com and call me if you have any questions!