Consumers are savvy-they are spending time on the web researching available products; but at the same time, they are busy and they are relying on us, the experts, to provide them with the information they need to make solid financial decisions for the purchase of a home, financing for the first time or re-financing a loan. We work closely with our clients, making sure they get a loan that they can truly afford-it ought to be our goal that clients would consider us trusted advisors.

With all the news reports about the sub-prime market and the unethical practices of some, many people I talk to don't trust lenders or brokers anymore. We have to work harder to obtain their trust and then we must maintain it by giving them the service they deserve-mainly, providing them with a loan that will fit their lifestyles and budget. With home prices dropping in many areas, people believe they won't qualify for a refinance. Economists are reporting that we should see a turnaround in the market by mid-2008 or perhaps early 2009. Real Estate is not for the faint of heart. This is the time when dedicated individuals like us will continue to give quality service to our communities and help to restore the public's confidence in our ability to provide great customer service to prospective clients.

Many will have credit problems and with our training, we can help clients get their credit squared away, by preparing them for the loan process. But more than just preparing them for a loan, we can help educate our clients about good money management and teach them skills that will benefit them in the future, too. Why not take the time to help out? Becoming a trusted advisor to our clients promotes respect in our ability, and in turn, they will provide us with referrals for our businesses.

With a business built on referrals, we need to treat each client with care and respect. We are in a unique position. People allow us to look over their financial history, we then make an evaluation of that history-we can simply qualify them for a loan, or we can take the time to help them clean things up and learn better financial skills. Remember, most consumers are savvy; and they know when someone is sincere. Provide them with service they can rely on and grow from--they just might remember your name and tell others about your services.