I was honored when Jeff Belonger asked me to write this review. Here is my take on the Mortgage Blogs that were posted this week.  One thing I discovered is though there are many in the profession, the range of topics they cover are probably more varied than the number of folk who post them.

As with anything, there is a life-cycle the consumer goes through in obtaining a mortgage and how the knowledgeable mortgage professional best cares for that consumer. 

The Introduction

This process starts with choosing a lender or broker and what a consumer goes through and needs to be aware of.  Though not a mortgage person, Renee Burrows does a great job suggesting to the consumer what to look for in various situations in her seemingly local only posting of Las Vegas Real Estate Financing Challenges 

Likewise the mortgage planner needs to be aware of the various pitfalls that Uncle Sam is attempting to put in place to protect the home buyer from our "evil ways".  An in depth analysis of this is undertaken by A Case for HR 3609 by Michael Tarabotto.

Bob Mitchell makes a good rebuttal to Uncle Sam's blame game in Stop Blaming the Mortgage Broker.  Others make good points to this as well, but Bob adds a good bit of creativity and comparison in the process.

Part of what the Mortgage Originator needs to have to offer the best advice is a good education as well.  Part of the changes that will be occurring in '08 besides the various laws will be the updates that are occurring with the credit industry and how FICO will be changing, as presented by Shawn Gerhardson.

The Process

Real Estate Agents and Mortgage Brokers alike agree 2008 is going to be a great time to either become a first time home buyer, a move up buyer or even an investor.  David Podgursky make a good case for 2008 being the time of the home buyer and why Real Estate is all local in 2008 and $100 Barrels of Oil 

For making a convincing argument for investing, Jason Sardi presents The Truth about Rehab This helps the first time investor an introduction on what to look for and why having a good mortgage professional is paramount.

Choosing the Right Program

The mortgage professional knows that there is a myriad of programs that are available for the consumer.  The consumer thinks they know it all from their various Internet searches and chats with their brother in law broker.  The trutch is bit more daunting and a bit more in need of deciphering. 

Jeff Belonger, the FHA Expert, dispels some of the myths of FHA mortgage insurance vs. Regular Mortgage Insurance in his multi part series. 

Rich Sweum offers his view on how Neg Am loans are going to be a huge pain in the petunia.

The Agony and the Ectasy

The entire process of obtaining the loan after the paper work has been signed can be a nail biting experience for the consumer, the Real Esate Agent, and even the mortgage person.  One never knows all the stips that may come up in the process as explained by Janet Guilbault in Sale Pending 

Though in the prayer process that can take place, the mortgage person needs to be aware of the communication that still should take place to the borrower and the two agents involved in the transaction.  Aaron Gordon offers some great advice to Real Estate Agents and Mortgage folk in How to Get Real Meaningful Loan Status from Your Lender

       The Rest of the Story

After the house is closed, the move in occurs, and the gifts are delivered, the post marketing begins.  Most consumers may or may not know about the selling of their loan and why it takes place.  Yes, we are all supposed to tell them.  Yes, they have said they understand but here is a great little piece on explaining it all for the very first second time in Why Your Mortgage Gets Sold or Transferred by E Jeffrey Dolfinger.

As always the rest of the story is perhaps the other most important time for a homeowner.  Continuing education, while crucial for a loan originator is also paramount for the homeowner.  Refinances of any kind is important, Jay Oku tells how VA streamlining refinancing is possible as easy as FHA streamline refinancing.

The other very important way of being able to pay off or down one's debt is greatly explained by Kate Bouland in Debt Consolidation - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Part of the continued support to our customers include deciphering the various ARM programs and fixed programs.  Here is a good post by Matthew Blum concerning ways the various indices work and how to better educate your clients on their adjusting ARMs.

Thank-you for all the great posts that occur on a weekly basis.  This has truly been a honor.

The next 3 members : 

•1.       Keith Hoffman       01/14/08  through  01/20/08

•2.       Matthew J Blum    01/21/08  through  01/27/08

•3.       Mike Jones              01/28/08  through  02/03/08

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 reviewcan 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!!!

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