Surely you remember as a child, when you were at a birthday party, in school, a family event or perhaps just killing time with several of your closest friends participating in that lovely, entertaining game of Whisper Down the Valley.
As I recall, there was a ton of laughter at the end of every transfer of information from the 1st person whispering, to the last person in line who had to repeat what was relayed to them. 99.9% of the time, the information was totally erroneous. Often there was no resemblance from the initial message given to the 1st person once the last person told the group what message they got. It could start like, "Barbara and Bobby are having steak diner tonight at their aunt and uncles house." and end up more like "Battling an bobbing all the steeples might fall on the ants, monkeys and the mouse"??? At which time everyone would crack up laughing at the guy at the end.
Well, we aren't children anymore.
When it comes to inforo that effects what is for many of us THE single largest investment we have made or will ever make in our lives, our house, FACTS are enormously important. The beauty of the Internet is that those FACTS are readily available. Of course, the ugly part of the Internet, is that opinions can masquerade as 'FACTS' in blogs that look allot like this one. Those of us in the Home Loan industry try really hard to shift through information we receive so as not to perpetuate the scary adult version of Whisper Down the Valley. Our professionalism, pride, concern for our communities and integrity dictate that we can only relay FACTS to our clients, current and future, personal contacts and public dialogs. For the most part, every mortgage professional is trying their best to operate under the same 'code of ethics'. However, like in any business, rumblings start and people run with them as FACT, not totally understanding the entire story. Kind of like when Truman held up the newspaper proclaiming Dewey the winner of the presidential election the morning after. Somebody got a big story and ran with it. Opps! If Mickey D's had a fry pit back then, the guy who made that decision was probably working there after that agressive error.
Folks, it's not as simple to choose a Loan Officer as it may appear. They may write incredibly well. They may have a book in publication, a radio show, television appearances and the like to their credit. All seemingly wonderful endorsements to their expertise. They might appear professional, carry themselves well, be incredibly charming. None of that should be the deciding factor of who you choose to be your Representative in a mortgage transaction.
You probably have interviewed your Realtor, your Daycare provider, a Doctor or 2, your Dentist, even your Physical Trainer. Well, interviewing your Loan Officer is equally important. Can you expect them to deal in FACT? Will you be a victim of the adult version of Whisper Down the Valley? Will they relay information both positive and negative with prompt concern for you as a person? Do they fill you with feelings of trust, competence, professionalism, empathy, and concern? Do you feel they are listening, actually listening to you? Do they make you feel important, like the single most important thing they are doing right now? These are the most important things to look for in a Loan Officer.
Nearly everyday, I peruse the blogs found here in the Rain. Many are seriously terrific. They just bleed care and concern for the clients they are trying to attract. However, several others are based on here say and misinterpretation of FACT as they are heard from sometimes 3rd, 4th and 5th parties. It's really not their fault. The mortgage industry has become far more complicated than it was as little as 1 1/2- 2 years ago. Yet, if there isn't a point of reference for the information your are digesting, be very skeptical as to the validity of the message. Don't let yourself be a victim of a bad game of Whisper Down the Valley.
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