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Story time, story time.....How did you get into business?

By
Mortgage and Lending with Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc

story time

 

So, who likes good stories?  Please stand up and raise your hand, don't be shy. Me? I was never the best story teller so you may fall asleep on me.  

Okay, for many of us, it was the end of the month. Besides being stressful at times, I have been writing many blogs that had a lot of thought go into them. I just wanted something easy for once. Yes, me, thinking of me.  ;o)

 

So, how did you get into the business that you are in now. May you be a realtor, a loan officer, a title person, a stagger, an appraiser, or even a virtual assistant. (hopefully I didn't miss anyone) If so, just chime in, many of you are good at that.

 

 

story time

 

Okay, okay....my boring story. The End....  lol  Seriously. I went to college for Landscape Architecture. After coming back from college, I got together with a friend who had his own lawn care business and wanted to make it grow. Sometimes when I came back from school, I would show him some of my design work. He was impressed and really wanted to give it a try because of the competition in the local area. 

So the following summer, we decided to expand his lawn care business. We started getting busy and I ended up doing around 5 drafts that summer. The following summer, I won a bid from 2 of the larger local landscaping companies in the area. It was close to a $18,000 job and this was back in 1991. The long and short of it, we basically broke even on the project. Gee, they show you how to design things, but not how to implement it while trying to make a profit. That is were experience comes into play. You all know about that, right?  How each one of us was very green when we started. Some of us brand new right now.

Well, my friend decided that he didn't want to continue that part of the business and he ended up selling his business for a decent penny. After we parted ways early the next year, I did some odd jobs for money. I went out for drinks with a college friend who had just gotten into the mortgage business in the middle of the summer of 1992. He told me how busy they were and that I should look into it. Okay I thought to myself, I was always good with numbers. Took some of those economic and finance courses in college, so why not.

August 17th, 1992 was my first day in the mortgage industry. I took a 3 day crash course in mortgages because we were in the height of the refinance boom of 1992. You can pretty much say that it's been history since then. Helping 1,000's of families obtain their dream, I truly love my job and can't think of too many other jobs that I would love to do.

 

****  I know some stories could be long. I thought about making this a contest and each do a blog on this. But it would be great to see who has the neatest and most interesting story on how they got into their respective business.  And if so, tell us how long that you have been in that business. Thanking you all in advance. ****        PS....  545 words.  This couldn't have been too long.  ;o)

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Copyright © 2011 by Jeff Belonger of Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc

Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans
Beth.... pretty simple and basic. But thanks for sharing this. How long have you been in the business?
Jul 31, 2007 02:44 PM
Melissa Wagner
Leo Parker Real Estate & Auction - Woodbury, TN

Hey Jeff! I am fairly new to the Real Estate business so my story is quite fresh in my mind... thought I'd share! I have had an interest in Real Estate for many years. I actually have always been house crazy- I fall in love with nearly every house I walk in to, honestly! I've always been the creative sort and my first love was interior design but through life circumstances never made it to college to specifically do that on a large scale level. I did have a small interior design business a few years ago but gave my time away too much:(

I worked for the last 6 years with my husband running a technology consulting company. We have had a really bad 9-10 months and if it was bad and could happen, most of it did. We had a manager in our company take some serious advantage and was dishonest about jobs completed, progress made, etc and we lost most all of our clients. Prior to that, I had found out I had a tumor on my intestines and on our individual ins. policy it fell under a pre-existing cond. so my husband took a job that had good insurance and no pre-existing clause so that I would be able to have surgery. I depended on this other person to help keep things going... bad decision. Within 6 months we were facing forclosure after trying with no avail to sell our house we could no longer afford. The whole ordeal inspired me to pursue a long time dream of helping others buy and sell their homes. Months later, I have been through 2 surgeries, lost my dad and had to go back to work at a "regular" job to help pay the bills but I finally managed to get my Real Estate license! I actually did it correspondance while I was bedridden from my last surgery. :)

This is my dream. I liked working with my husband, but it was never what I loved. I work two full time jobs in order to make this work. Three nights a week, I work a 12 hour shift at the hospital and often times have appointments to keep the next morning so sometimes I will be up for 24 hours before sleeping. Sunday I worked 5 hours to do an open house and had 30 minutes between it and going to the hospital to do my other job. My family thinks I am crazy! :) Maybe so- but my husband supports me in this endeaver 100%. He sees the passion I have for it. So do I and I know I am going to do great. I got a new buyer and listing from my time at the open house... I think it was worth it.

Look forward to hearing other's stories! :) 

 

Jul 31, 2007 03:00 PM
Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production
Great one dude....I knew only one thing in my life....IT'S THAT I WAS NEVER EVER GOING TO WORK IN SALES.  I was then in my 2nd year of law school and my friend begged me to get in....she said that it was a lilcense to print money.  But I said nooooooo, because of the "sales person perception."  Anyway, the rule is in law school, the first year they scare you to death, the second year they work you to death and the third year they bore you to death.  3rd year and bored, I succombed.  I said that I wouldn't SELL, I would only SERVE....it's been downhill and smooth sailing ever since......thanks bro.
Jul 31, 2007 03:04 PM
Judi Morgan
RETIRED - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Real Estate

We moved to a small town many years ago and bought our first house from a wonderful Real Estate Agent.  She opened her own office soon after and asked me to work for her and set up her office.  We had many more moves ahead of us so it wasn't the right time to start a real estate career.  22 years later, with our oldest in college and the 2 youngest almost finished with high school I decided it was time to fulfill my dream of getting my real estate license.  In June of 2000 I began taking the courses I needed and by the end of October, 2000, I had my license.

My kids weren't surprised -- they had been dragged through every model home in every city we had ever lived in.  :o)

Jul 31, 2007 03:18 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Melissa......  I think that is an awesome story. I think you will do awesome in this business not only because of your passion and love for houses, but your will at life and able to tackle anything thrown at you. And it's great to have someone in your life that will support you. Thanks for sharing this story.... welcome to Real Estate and welcome to Active Rain.

Larry...... that's a good story. I am like you... I hate sales...  I hate selling. But I love to make people happy... I love to educate, and I love people in general with my non-sales personality. So we seem to be the same in regards to your story. It's like the story behind Patch Adams. A doctor by trade, but just loved making people laugh while helping them. Especially those that couldn't help themselves, even when it was financially for meds. 

 

Jul 31, 2007 03:23 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans
Judi... I know of this story because when we talked on the phone, I had asked you how you got into real estate. Thanks for sharing this with the rest of us. 
Jul 31, 2007 03:25 PM
Desiree Daniels
RE/MAX Tri County - Robbinsville, NJ

I was kidnapped (by my parents) ... brow beat (by former employer) and promised the world if I got into the "family business"    I fought it for many years... I've had a RE License since I was 21 but didn't use it actively  unit total burnout from the wonderful world of psychology.    

Now I am proud to be who I am in this wonderful world of real estate and actually thank my folks for talking me (brow beating me) into it, 

 

Jul 31, 2007 03:26 PM
Judi Morgan
RETIRED - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Real Estate

Jeff, Wow, you listened and remembered the details, I'm impressed.  :)

Jul 31, 2007 03:37 PM
Tony Gallegos
Cognicorp Mortgage Banking Advisory - Marietta, GA

Mine is a pretty simple story in that I had to make money.

I was going to graduate school at UC Berkeley and decided to get married right after my first semester. It then dawned on me I had to make a living. Had a good friend from my undergrad days (University of Colorado) that was a year older than me and was making great money in the mortgage business. He convinced me I could too. Since I was living with my parents, had no bills and was not getting married for over a year, I decided what the heck.

The rest is history!

Jul 31, 2007 05:01 PM
Melissa Olson
HOPE Lending LLC - Bellevue, WA
HOPE Lending LLC
Jeff - I had an incredible career as an accountant, and had been investing in real estate for a few years.  I wrote about it here:  BAIT AND SWITCH - How I got into the Mortgage Industry .  The loan officer I was using gave me a different rate at closing.  I was so mad I went out and got into the industry to learn more and get the best money.  It turned into a wonderful experience and business.
Jul 31, 2007 05:13 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Nothing magical here, Jeff. It has been an interest for many years, and once I left the corporate world about 5 years ago (after Chapter 11 and having trouble finding a job I wanted in my HR field) I decided the time was right to finally pursue the real estate dream. MAde sense then and still does.

Jeff

Jul 31, 2007 06:16 PM
Marlene Bridges
Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA
Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate
Jeff - Isn't it interesting that things we have the greatest passion for 0ften find us instead of the other way around?  Neat story.  Thanks for sharing it.
Jul 31, 2007 06:50 PM
Thomas Weiss
Thomas R. Weiss - West Palm Beach, FL

Jeff,

Very nice, landscape architecture, real change in work, I think you have plenty to offer us in this business, so we are lucky to have you.. You should make this a contest, we might some real interesting stories :0)

Tom Weiss

Jul 31, 2007 07:37 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Desiree......  being kidnapped by your parents isn't always a bad thing. As you stated, look, you love it now, good at it, and successful. Besides, I already knew part of this story from talking to you.  :o)  Thanks for sharing it for others.

Judi......  yes ma'am....  ;o)

Tony..... "had to make money."   You mean that you don't do this as a hobby?  lol  Seriously.... thank god for certain friends.... 

Melissa...  I knew that you were an accountant previously and remember that you received a higher rate. I wasn't sure if you wrote that in the post that you are talking about, which I need to check out, or that it was in a comment. It sounds like it was a great choice. Thanks for sharing...

Jeff D. ..........  sounds like a semi rough road, but look at you now....  someone that not only loves what he is doing, but good at it, and does some great colorful blogs when it comes to your listings.

Marlene......  thanks...yes, it is interesting. so, what's your story?   ;o)

Tom W. ......  thanks for the compliments, I appreciate them. So, what about you, how did you get into this?

Aug 01, 2007 12:23 AM
Katrina Madewell
Charles Rutenberg Rlty- More than 5,000 agents(813) 777-1196 - Tampa, FL
Tampa FL Homes for sale | Tampa Bay - (813) 777-1196

I started out as an assistant in a mortgage office at 17 years old.  They liked me so much the promoted me to telemarketing (I was only 17). I learned a lot telemarketing for that mortgage company in the (way early) 90's, and Joyce the office manager wanted me to get my mortgage broekrs license when I turned 18. 

I wanted to go to school for travel and tourism, so I did.  Graduate from Southeastern Academy and learned EVERYTHING from flight attendant training (this is what I wanted to do), to the car rental industry, to travel agency functions, as well as resesrvations booking etc on American Airlines SABRE system.  When I graduated I got a job offer from continental airlines making $5.62 an hour while agreeing to relocate anywhere in the world they wanted to send me. 

I quickly realized this was not going to be a good career choice (boy was this an even larger blessing after 9/11), and took my old boss up on her offer to get my license and go to work as a mortgage broker with them.  Did this for a few years until I realized that Subprime was the doom and gloom side of the mortgage industry and they were not the fairest people around.   Took a break started with a new company, got tired of sueing people for money they owed me, started my own mortgage business.

Later in 1994 I took the real estate course for education and actually became licensed back in 2004.

How's that?

myspace layouts, myspace codes, glitter graphics

Aug 01, 2007 05:00 AM
Kim Murphy
Draper and Kramer - Lombard, IL
Mortgage Loans in DuPage, Kane, Cook, Lake, Will C
Jeff, I like this, it is a great way to get to know every better!  I have been in the mortgage industry since 1997.  I think I will do  a separate post, my story is a doosie and looooonnngggg.
Aug 01, 2007 03:34 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
Worked for a family law attorney for many years, then taught classes/admin/grant writer for a program for another few...and decided it was time to save me and still help others. Get burnt from other peoples problems...this way there's a solution and friends along the way.
Aug 01, 2007 04:53 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Katrina.....  very interesting. Glad that you stuck it out, are you?  One thing though, I wouldn't say that the subprime side was the doom and gloom of the industry. A lot of that is because of how loan officers abused the system. The system wasn't as bad.... but we are all going to be paying for it one way or another.  Thanks for sharing this.

Kim..... lol.... thanks... please link your story to here, when you are finished. Looking forward to it.

Sally....  great little story and some excellent points. "Time for you and still able to help others"

Aug 03, 2007 02:25 AM
Kim Murphy
Draper and Kramer - Lombard, IL
Mortgage Loans in DuPage, Kane, Cook, Lake, Will C
Jeff, Here ya go! The good, the bad and the ugly!   Thanks for asking !
Aug 03, 2007 02:36 AM
Marie Kletke
iNet Realty - Long Beach, CA
Broker - Long Beach Real Estate
Jeff, I'm going to follow Kim's example and create a post.  It's long.  I have some photos.  And I need the points! LOL!
Aug 03, 2007 04:58 AM