real estate: I am back
- 02/08/12 03:33 PM
I was not a happy camper back in July of 2008. I sat poolside with the Wife as we watched the Girl play with her cousins in the warm pool in Burnside, Ky. I had 5 full-time employees, and over the previous few months I had closed 85% of the loans in the office. Sadly, a fair share of that business was going to pay the overhead and keep the office open.
I was not happy
Mentally, I was done. I wanted out. I was not interested in doing mortgages anymore, but what else was I going to do? I … (6 comments)
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real estate: Michiana Networking
- 09/02/08 02:24 AM
There is a new group starting up in Michigan City that will cover LaPorte County and parts of Porter County it is call Michiana Networking. It is similar to other groups without all of the tight restrictions. There are still only one person from each profession, but attendance is only required to be 50% of the time and it is held at lunch time at Swingbellys in Michigan City near the beach.
So, far we have about 8 members, including myself as the Mortgage Broker and Radio Sales, an insurance guy from American Family, Financial Planner from Edward Jones and a … (0 comments)
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real estate: Mad Mortgage Machine Minute - Cinco de Mayo
- 05/05/08 01:42 AM
Microsoft pulled back it's offer for Yahoo and of course Yahoo stock is retreating. The mortgage backed bonds are opening higher already up 19bps points from the time that I did the morning video.
It was a great weekend, I noticed that there are a lot more open houses in the past couple weeks as compared to last year and the FSBO's are getting in on the act. I stopped by a few of those, but I am keeping what I do for them under my hat.
Some economic news for the week ahead, the ISM Service Index, Crude Inventories … (0 comments)
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real estate: Inflation and Earnings
- 04/15/08 03:01 AM
With good earnings news and a higher inflation report means stocks start the day on the upside and bonds get pushed lower this morning. Obviously, if you know anything about the relationship between rates and bonds you know we are going to have some worse pricing coming out here soon.
Oil has set a new record at $113 a barrel on the news of an ever weakening dollar. I remember when gas was like .78 cents a gallon and yesterday I paid 3.41 and this morning it was to 3.49 that is crazy. It is more important than ever to make sure your … (2 comments)
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real estate: Why can't we all just get along
- 04/10/08 05:34 AM
Check out this short cute video:This is an amazing video of one of the homeless in Santa Barbara and his pets. They work State Street every week for donations. The animals are pretty well fed and are mellow. They are a family. The man who owns them rigged a harness up for his cat so she wouldn't have to walk so much (like the dog and himself). At some juncture the rat came along, and so no one wanted to eat anyone else, the rat started riding with the cat and often, on the cat. The dog will stand all day … (1 comments)
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real estate: Mad Mortgage Machine Minute - April 10, 2008
- 04/10/08 05:21 AM
Well, today, I am working and watching. We are watching the stocks pick up some steam with Wal-Mart and Costco showing some positive earnings. Intel showing a slight decline and since we are in the earnings season. Stocks are going to be a little more volatile. The Trade deficit was wider for February than expected.
Gosh, can the airlines catch a break at all. American has a third day of cancelling flights. I wonder what this is costing them. At least, we know that someone is watching out for us and making sure the wiring on these planes are good.
I … (1 comments)
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real estate: Mad Mortgage Machine Minute - April 04, 2008
- 04/04/08 03:38 AM
With the jobs market coming in at the worst levels since September 2005, and the largest once month decline since March of 05. We are seeing bonds go higher this morning. Stock futures were higher this morning, but have opened at unchanged.
I know we are all fearing what Big Ben may call a recession, but I urge you to let all of your clients know that rates are still very great. FHA is a great way to buy a house with low or no downpayment. As I tried to tell a Realtor yesterday, what we could have done last year is quickly falling … (4 comments)
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real estate: Mad Mortgage Machine Minute - April 03, 2008
- 04/03/08 02:31 AM
We are seeing some good gains in the bond market as initial jobless claims came in higher then September 2005 levels. Big Ben Bernake is back on Capitol Hill this morning to testify before the Senate Banking Committee.
Stocks have opened lower, but are trying to put together some good numbers and rally back. On the news of the ISM Services Index, an indication of the Service Sector, which we all know to be a large part of our economy came in better than expected and stocks have retreated from their earlier highs, but still above the opening.
I was watching Squawk Box this … (0 comments)
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real estate: Mad Mortgage Machine Minute
- 04/02/08 01:30 AM
Big Ben goes to the hill today to answer for the Bear Stearns meltdown/buyout. Bonds are down this morning on the news of ADP employment report that was up 8k vs. expectations that they were going to be down 45k. Stock futures are trading higher this morning. So, we can expect a modestly higher opening this morning.
Back the Bear Stearn buyout, that was done with with a flick of the pen. No congressional hearings, just a simple Presidential order and Ben acted swiftly. I am hearing talk that some are saying our banking system is at its worst since the depression. … (2 comments)
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real estate: Opening Day
- 03/31/08 03:44 AM
I was not a good baseball player as a kid. I slowly came into my own in high school. I played a solid second base. I was no hoover out there, but I was a good back stop. I was never afraid to sacrifice my body.
As a baserunner, I could steal second in a flash when I was able to get to first. I was a bruiser. If you were standing in the base path. I would run you over. Perhaps, that is where I got my football prowess from.
I still have a bad taste in mouth about professional baseball going … (3 comments)
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real estate: Mad Mortgage Machine Minute
- 03/24/08 02:18 AM
Stocks are opening higher on the news that JP Morgan Chase is going to up their price from $2 to $10 a share in order to pacify upset shareholders. The shareholders should not be upset at JP Morgan but at Bear Stearns for putting them in this situation. I am not exactly sure why people blame the wrong people or even the ones that are trying to help, but they always seem to do.
So, investors are pulling their money out of bonds and putting it in stocks which is driving the bond much lower this morning, now down 69bps this morning. … (0 comments)
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real estate: H2O OK!
- 03/14/08 09:44 AM
We all love to drink water, some in our scotch, out of a bottle bought at the local market for more than $12 a gallon or straight from the tap. I am tap guy, grew up on well water, still drink from the tap today. There has been a scare here of recent days and weeks from national reports that we do not have safe water from DRUGS.
Drugs such as antibiotics, sex hormones and pain remedies (no wonder my shoulder has been feeling better). In a recent article from the New-Dispatch in Michigan City both Directors from LaPorte and Michigan … (2 comments)
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real estate: 9 Primary Elements of Self-Leadership - Self-Direction
- 02/19/08 03:58 AM
I started and stopped this part 4 times. I just could not focus on the task at hand. I think I have a handle on it now and I am sure that I am headed in the right direction. Funny, how this is on Self-Direction.
You can lead others, or better yet you can manage others. You are a good manager, but can you lead yourself. Do you have what it takes for Self-Direction? I had an image yesterday of the Big ToDo List on my desk and the HoneyDo List. Which one are you more likely to do first? Wait, … (0 comments)
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real estate: My Why...
- 02/17/08 04:49 AM
this week on vacation. I got sick I was in bed for nearly two and half days and slept for 36 of 48 hours. But, as i laid there in bed tween the grunts and the groans. I began thinking on my why. Why do I do what I do? Why do I help people find the funding for the home of their dreams.
Why?
I came up with this and I know this is going to be a work in progress it will change from time to time.
Why I do what I do. I enjoy it. I can help people, but … (2 comments)
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real estate: Daily Quote
- 01/14/08 04:16 AM
"This is your wake-up call...go to work."Gordon Gekkocorporate raider from the movie "Wall Street" (1987)
I seen and read that many of the drive-by media are comparing our mortgage meltdown to a stock market crash. So, I thought the quote of the day should be from the movie "Wall Street".
I believe GG was telling Bud that this was his one chance to impress me to get on my team. Go to work and show me your mettle. Now, I have been reading and watching real estate companies come and go. I had that there was a large company out in Arizona … (0 comments)
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real estate: Ipod University - what my Ipod teaches me #2
- 01/02/08 03:12 PM
Back in September, I posted a AR blog about what's on my Ipod and what it teaches me. Well, back then I promised to share more. I have added and deleted a few of the podcasts. I see one issue of some of the podcasts and that is consistency. I had some of my favorite go bye-bye. I am not sure why. I guess I did care enough for them too email or call to find why they quit.
So, I am going to add five more must listen podcast. Well, must listen to me. I am even adding a device … (2 comments)
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real estate: You Greedy Little Mercenary
- 12/27/07 03:05 AM
We had a small Christmas this year. My daughter who is four has more than enough toys all she does is play with the boxes anyway. So, the wife and I decided to go light this year and just enjoy the season without the maddening crowds at the malls and the Best Buys (which I am banned from one in South Bend - a long story will tell if asked) of this world. So, we did it all last minute and bought gifts for people that would help them with either puzzles, books or so on.
Well, we are my brothers … (2 comments)
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real estate: Who Would You Rather Work With...Realtor Edition
- 12/26/07 01:25 AM
I decided to rework my list and put in the hands of the Realtor, my life-blood because without them I would not have this awesome career.
Who Would You The Realtor Rather Work With...
1) Work with a Mortgage Broker who has done hundreds of homes (personally) or... some bank person who is just learning?
2)A Mortgage Broker that only gets paid when the loan closes or...some bank person who gets paid regardless whether he closes the loan or not.
3) Work with a Mortgage Broker who lives in the community they work in or... someone from the internet who is lucky to speak English or understand your needs or even your clients … (1 comments)
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real estate: Ipod University - what my Ipod teaches me
- 09/28/07 05:28 AM
Early this summer, I took the plunge and bought an Ipod. Yes, I know I am just a little slow on the rage, but I am fast learner. And, that is what I am here to talk about. I am huge fan of Zig Ziglar's school of thought and his Automobile University.
In his seminars, he has told a story of his assistant that happens to just have at best a high school education. Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking her educational status, just stating a fact. I know a lot of people that have less than that and … (7 comments)
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real estate: INAMB
- 10/04/06 08:31 AM
I just got back form the IMAMB annual show. I took some brush up classes on FHA and Construction to Perm. It is amazing what you can learn and relearn. I am a member of the INAMB and intend to get more involved, to help keep our industry free of the hucksters that take advantage of people. I stand by my work and I have often said that I never want my clients to feel that I have not done my best for them. I never want to see them in the grocery store and have them punch me in the … (1 comments)
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I was not a happy camper back in July of 2008. I sat poolside with the Wife as we watched the Girl play with her cousins in the warm pool in Burnside, Ky. I had 5 full-time employees, and over the previous few months I had closed 85% of the loans in the office. Sadly, a fair share of that business was going to pay the overhead and keep the office open. 
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