Tim Marose's (timmarose) Blog

Optimizing Your Website and Making It Your Number 1 Marketing Tool

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:43:07 -0700

The most important marketing tool for any business owner, especially real estate agents, should be your personal website. If a realtor does not make the effort to properly learn the fundamentals of SEO, it can mean the difference between a website being successful, or failing. Success in terms of your website should mean that potential clients are finding you on the internet, picking up the phone and calling to ask you questions. Fortunately, it is not extremely difficult to master good search engine optimization techniques, and there are various web based books that can teach you the basics. The four most important aspects of great SEO are: on-page SEO, off-page SEO, keyword density, and back links to your site. If you master these four elements, your website will be significantly better optimized than if you completely ignored SEO and rely on luck for the search engines to find your website. Google, Yahoo, Bing and AOL don't place websites at the top of the rankings because they randomly select them. You move to the top by making sure all of the pieces of the puzzle are properly placed. To optimize a website properly, your site needs to have good content and articles, or "on-page Search Engine Optimization". By having keyword rich articles and website content material, the major search engines will be much more probable to rank your website highly for the keywords phrases you have selected. Good on-page search engine optimization involves using keywords throughout your articles yet not engaging in what is known as "keyword stuffing", where key word phrases are overused making the information read the wrong way. This is where the term "keyword density" becomes important to your website. Keyword density is simply how many times you have a targeted keyword inside your text or your content, and how long the content or blog is. If you have content that is 400 words long, having a keyword density between 1 to 3% is generally ideal for SEO. Checking out keyword density is pretty easy with a variety of free web based programs. Off-page SEO is as significant, if not more important than on-page SEO. Using sites like Active Rain, Twitter, Facebook and other social sites can do a lot to boost your off-page SEO. Making content, videos, and other subject matter and submitting them to additional internet websites and blogs is a vital method to build up credibility for your web site. Google takes this into account when it ranks your website. Having other internet pages with a good page rank that hyperlink your websites is a very important solution to achieve higher rankings in the search engine results. Builiding off-page content, or backlinks to your site is very important and can take a lot of time. It can be done by simply getting in touch with other online businesses that can link back to your site. For Real Estate agents, a great link back to your site would be from your mortgage lender, broker, title company, home inspector, general contractors, landscapers, etc. Anyone that you do business with is a potential opportunity for you to request a link. The best forms of links are one-way links which come from one site to your own. Take a little time to learn the types of backlinks and what might work most effectively for your website's search engine optimization. One other thing that I would mention is that the search engines do not like duplicate content. As a mortgage lender for 11 years, I spent a lot of money on template based websites, which you could have up and running in about an hour. Although it is extremely tempting to be able to have a website done so quickly, a lot of companies (not all) will put the site together and have the same sites for 100's of realtors or mortgage lenders. The only thing that really changes is the name and phone numbers. The coding of the site is the same, the keywords are the same, and many other parts of the site are identical. This can actually penalize you in the search engines. Although it is easy to follow the lead of another realtor or mortgage professional, being unique is what will get you the most bang for the buck. There are a lot of variables to SEO and for many people, it is exausting to keep up with new articles, blogs, tweets, videos, and all the other requirements neccessary to getting great placement on the search engines. Google offers some great free tools. Simply type in "Google SEO" in your search bar and you can read a ton of information on meta tags, descriptions, keywords, keyword density, etc. You can always work with a reputable SEO company as well, but that requires you searching through all of the companies out there to find one that works and guarantees what they do. One of the sites I used to see how well my website was optimized was through a company that offers a free optimization tool. You can see how well your site is optimized for website traffic. It is another free service but gives you a great idea of where you stand as of today. We all know that blogging can be a great way to find new potential buyers and sellers, but if you are short on time, you may need to call in the big guns! Good Luck

Now is the time to refinance your home loan, but prepare for the changes

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:06:10 -0700

The mortgage industry has gone through several changes in the last few years. The ability to refinance your home loan has become increasingly difficult, and lenders are requiring borrowers to jump through more hoops than ever. Many homeowners are trying to take advantage of historically low interest rates, but have been surprised by the numerous changes that have taken place and the high qualification standards. There are a few things you should know prior to calling your mortgage broker. You now need to have a very high credit score in order to qualify for a mortgage refinance. In years past, it seemed that a pulse and the ability to fog up a mirror where the only requirements for refinancing. Now, almost every lender requires a minimum of a 620 Fico score, and many require at least a 660. Lenders will also charge higher interest rates for lower scores as well as cash out. Make sure you get a copy of your credit report and review it for accuracy. You can also improve your credit scores quickly by paying down balances on current debts. It may be a very difficult task, but making sure your credit report is accurate can cost you thousands in the long run. Homeowners will also need to exercise patience when attempting to refinance a home loan. Due to the lowest rates that many have ever seen, mortgage lenders have been extremely busy with refinance activity. In addition, the housing market that has began to show signs of life. Lenders downsized in 2008 and are now a bit shorthanded to handle the flurry of business. This means that the refinance process can take from 30 to 60 days with some lenders or brokers. Increased underwriting standards have also extended the lending process, so borrowers need to know the entire process is now going to take longer than before. The most painful aspect of the entire refinance process is the fact that most homes have significantly decreased in value. The value of a home will determine the program and products available to homeowners. Recent programs introduced by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow loans up to 105% of the value of the home. Be prepared to hear a very low number when you ask about your value. To find out if your home is owned by Fannie Mae (fanniemae.com) or Freddie Mac (freddiemac.com) you can visit their websites or simply call your lender to find out who owns your mortgage. Please understand that owning and servicing your mortgage are not the same thing. You pay your mortgage company, but they may not own your loan. Points are now a common aspect when you attempt to refinance your home loan. The rates you see quoted online, in the newspaper, and on the television commercials usually include points. The days of the zero point, zero closing cost loans have disappeared. Lenders no longer rely on servicing loans for years to come in order to make money, so fees will be charged up front. You will also find that points can significantly reduce your interest rate and mortgage payment, and potentially save you thousands during the life of your loan. Find out how long it will take to make back the total cost of points by talking to your loan officer. Don't assume points are bad....you may be surprised at how much 1 point can reduce your mortgage payment. You will need to have a good idea of how long you plan on staying in your home to determine if it makes sense when refinancing. The mortgage industry is changing daily, and you need to work with a mortgage professional that understands these changes and can help guide you through the process. To find out more about the options available for your mortgage refinance, call Tim Marose today at 240-463-3224 or apply online.

How to make a Realtors Day

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:29:02 -0700

Last week I was off to the office when I received a phone call from a potential client. The potential client and I had lunch plans that day, and he was calling to confirm our appointment, and to ask if I would mind driving. Of course I agreed, and then detoured to the closest full service car wash. With 2 kids, football practice, camping trips and weekend getaways, I was more than overdue for my next full service. As I was about to pay, I heard a woman talking on the phone about a lock-box and trying to arrange an afternoon appointment. I told her that I knew other people were busy in this industry besides me, and started a conversation about her business. If we spent more than 2 minutes chatting, I would have been surprised. She was a bit flustered about her showing, so we quickly exchaged cards, I gave her a brief description of what I did and what made my company a little different, and we both went on our way. Later that night I found her business card in my pocket, and sent her a nice little email. More times than not, these emails are not even returned, so I usually don't get too worked up about going into to much detail. Just a little reminder about our meeting, a little more about what we can do, and I was done. To my surprise, she emailed the next afternoon, told me about the lenders she was working with, and how slow business had been. She promised to keep me in mind on future purchases and to keep in touch. She was extremely pleasant, but again, I have received the brushoff so many times, I felt that was the direction the email was headed. I wanted to send one more email and push this a bit harder. I explained how much I enjoyed our conversation, and would send her the next deal I received in an effort to establish some type of relationship. I threw in a few one liners, and hit send. She responded back with a LOL response, and stated she would be anxiously awaiting the referral. I would guess she has heard this response many times before from mortgage professionals, and wasn't about to hold her breath. I know she could not have been more shocked when I called her later that evening with the name and phone number of a pre-qualified hom buyer, in the same neighborhood she was showing the house the day before, and looking for a realtor to guide her through the process. I still can remember the laughter on the other end of the phone and the shock in her voice. In a matter of minutes, I made a realtors day! I only had one stipulation.....I do the financing! That was a pretty easy sell considering. For all of you realtors out there....Don't be afraid to make a loan officer's day:-)

Debt Consolidation Loans, Refinance, Consolidate Debt in DC Metro Area by Mortgage Broker Tim Marose

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:37:02 -0700

The DC Metro area was one of the fastest appreciating areas in the country for homes during the last 5 years. Like the old saying goes, “What goes up, must come down”, and many have felt the pinch of the housing crunch over the last year. Falling home prices have caused financial hardship for many, while others have found relief with a debt consolidation loan. A debt consolidation loan simply uses the equity in the home to pay off other expenses. Let me give you an example of a recent situation and how a debt consolidation loan changed their monthly expenses. Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner owe $147,000 on their current mortgage. They paid $160,000 in 2004 with just 5% down. The house, even after depreciation in the last year, is worth $300,000. They currently have a 7% mortgage and their monthly principal and interest payment is $1011 a month. Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner have used their credit cards a lot in the last year. The cards have been used for everything from household expenses to vacations. They have a Visa card with $13,000 balance and a minimum monthly payment of $390. They owe $7200 on a Mastercard, minimum monthly payment of $216. They have another Visa card with $6800 and a payment of $204, and finally, two department store cards with a $3,000 balance and monthly payments of $90. Total, they owe $30,000 and pay $900 a month in minimum payments to credit cards. This is just the minimum required! Most credit cards range in interest rates from 13.99% to 24%. If they continue to make just the minimum payments, and don’t charge again, it will take 30 years to pay them off! With a debt consolidation loan and minimal closing costs, their new mortgage balance is $180,000. The new principal and interest payment is $1079 on a 30 year mortgage. This is only $68 more than they were paying before, and all of the credit card debts have been paid off. They will save $831 per month by consolidating, and now the interest is tax deductable. If they want to pay the home off sooner, they could take out a 15 year mortgage, and their new payment would only be $1494 per month, and all the credit cards would still be paid. They just shortened the term of the mortgage by 11 years AND consolidated all of the debt! To find out what a debt consolidation refinance can do for you, visit www.tmmortgagegroup.com today or call 1-800-696-1424.

Timing is Everything in the Refinance Market

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:08:30 -0700

Timing plays an important role in so many things in our life. There is something to be said about being in the right place at the right time. Buying a stock, purchasing a house, or asking for a raise, are all about timing. Now, refinancing also requires a little bit of timing as well. Earlier today, I spoke to a couple looking to refinance their current mortgage. They bought a few years ago and decided to take out an interest only loan. This is simply a loan that does not require any of the principle to be paid monthly. Rather, you pay just the interest each month and your mortgage balance remains the same. The loan my customers are in is a 5 year adjustable, so in another couple of years, the interest rate, along with the payment will change. They will be required to pay principal in a few years as well. This morning was a great morning for many mortgage professionals. Rates opened very low and all signs pointed towards a busy day. I was working with quite a few customers that were about to lock, I locked a few early in the day. The customers I spoke about above called in this morning to ask a few more questions. I answered all their questions, but they decided that they wanted to wait it out a little longer and see if maybe they could get a little closer to 5%. Apparently, 5.5% wasn't a strong enough rate at the time. At 1:47 this afternoon I got my first email from a lender stating that they were going to increase interest rates. I immediately called my customers to inform them of what was happening. One problem....voice mail. I asked them to give me a call back so we could lock before we saw any other major increase in rates. 3:11 PM. Same Company sent over a second rate change for the day. Rates were still increasing, and all the companies were in line. I received about 15 emails in the next 10 minutes about rates worsening. (I hate this word and would love for someone to come up with something that does not sound like my 5 year old talking). I figured since I already called once, I would send them an email and let them know what was going on. We were so close this morning, but they just were not ready to pull the trigger. I almost locked their loan for them at this time on a hunch, but didn't. This may be a huge error on my part, but felt that I would move when they were ready. 5:50 PM. Same company, same result. Prices Worsened Again! Still no contact with the borrower. One company I worked with had increased interest rates by .50% since earlier this morning. On a $300,000 loan amount, this is equivalent to $95 a month over the next 30 years. One day's pricetag is $34,200 over the next 30 years! Now, I get to sit back and wait for my clients to call and tell me that the new payment is going to be too high and they will just sit back and wait. After all, they have 2 plus years remaining on their current adjustable rate and can live with where they are now. But what if rates don't come back down? In the back of my mind, I believe they will, but what if? Was the reward of $19 a month worth the risk of $95 a month? Now before I get the emails about rate protection and negotiating rate, I understand and know all of this. I locked a few loans today and will offer my clients even better rates if they decrease. But in this case, I was completely at the mercy of my client. Should I have been more pushy? Should I have sold them harder? What's the saying? You can lead a horse to water..... So, my one lesson I would like to give to anyone out there considering a refinance in the next few months, or for those of you like me in the profession. Make sure you have a rate in mind that will make you move! Once all of the short term and long term goals are discussed, make sure everyone knows what rate will make things move forward. If I would have got a rate that my clients were happy with up front, I could have locked them without talking to them this morning and everyone would have been happy. I try to do this with all of my refinance clients, but failed to do so on this one. Now I have to sit back and wait for the call. I don't know what is more fun, waiting for the call, or watching the rates skyrocket all afternoon. Good stuff!!!

Still Waiting to Refinance? Why Gamble with Interest Rates?

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:01:14 -0700

The credit crisis got a much needed shot in the arm this week with the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Immediately we saw a nice improvement to interest rates as well as many sectors of the stock market. Nobody knows if this is going to be the answer to the housing crisis, but we do know that rates are much lower than they have been in months, so maybe now is the time. Within the next few months, over 1.2 trillion dollars in mortgages are about to reset. Many of these customers have been waiting and gambling with rates before refinancing. Unfortunately, 40 to 80% of these borrowers currently in adjustable rate mortgages and interest only mortgages are going to see a significant payment shock. In other words....their payments are going to skyrocket! There are a few more pieces that fit into this equation, but one area going to be hit the hardest is the Alta-A and Jumbo market. Currently, 15% of all Alta-A customers (those with slight credit issues) are currently at 100% Loan to Value. This means they owe as much if not more than the house is worth. The Jumbo market is being hit even harder. 25% of all Jumbo borrowers are at 100% LTV or higher. Many believe home values may continue to drop, although we are very close to the bottom. Why would current home owners gamble with interest rates AND decreasing home values? Every day I work with homeowners that qualified a few months ago, but a drop in home value now eliminates them from a refinance. If you add up the numbers and a refinance makes sense now, don't put it off. This market can change tomorrow and you may miss out on something that could have really helped your financial situation.

You Missed A Payment - No Help For You In This Enviorment

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:24:37 -0700

We have all read about the homeowner who has taken out the 50 year, interest only, adjustable loan 3 years ago and now that the payment is recasting, they can no longer afford their home. It seems you can't read a blog or newspaper article about homeowners, and not find one who hasn't fallen behind on payments. Now these homeowners are looking at bankruptcy, foreclosure, short sales or attempting a loan modification, just to survive. If you read my last post, you know I feel for these people, and hope a solution is right around the corner. However, I want to explore a different borrower that seems to have done everything right, but cannot catch a break. The recent change in the economy has caused many to fall behind one way or another. The increased prices to gas, milk, bread, and everything in between has caused even the most prudent consumer to be stretched beyond their means. Homeowners that have paid their mortgage on time for years and are now facing tough times, cannot seem to catch a break. Have we now reached a point where we cannot extend help to those that have been so good to us in the past? Aren't we all allowed a moment to gain our composure and regroup? I see it in sports all the time. I watch NFL teams so out of sync that they need to call a timeout and regroup and regain some composure. Why doesn't this work for some homeowners? If I am a homeowner and have paid my mortgage on time for the last six years without a hitch, and suddenly I had some financial hardship, can I call a timeout? Shouldn't my past give me some type of breathing room? Doesn't a flawless payment history for 6 years on EVERYTHING and a 750 FICO score allow me to get something other than a collection call from my mortgage company? NOT IN THIS ENVIORMENT! It really is sad to see what has happened in the mortgage industry, and how so many bad loans have caused so much paranoia amongst lending institutions. Mortgage companies are no longer hiring wholesale account executives to sell, they are now staffing up on collection agents and loss mitigations specialists. At what point do we realize that everyone, regardless of Credit, Capacity, and Collateral, are going to run into a road block along life's journey? It can happen to anyone, even you! My question is simple. Who is going to be there to help those that have done right so many times in the past, and have always figured out a way to make a payment, now that they have fallen onto hard times? I want to help, but there is only so much I can do. The bailout by the Federal Government? Hey, I don't want to get political here, but most programs I have seen are for those that have fallen behind on their mortgage after it has adjusted. What about Mr. and Mrs. Jones that are in the 30 year fixed at 6.5% and have had some medical issues the last three months and their mortgage history has suffered? Do we have some economic stimulus for these people? I have heard the saying many, many times....LIFE IS NOT FAIR! I understand this now more than ever. I just wish there were more ways to make the playing field a little more even.

Your House is NOT an ATM Machine! Refinancing is Not the Only Alternative

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:47:26 -0700

ATM's charge high fees when you withdraw your OWN money from a competing bank's machine. This fee ranges from $2.00 to as high as $10 if you ever needed to get some cash from a Casino in Atlantic City. It is absolutely insane that we pay these high fees in order to access our own cash, but I have to tell you, it is a lot cheaper than another method many people use...Refinancing! In the past 5 years, many homeowners have used their house like their own personal ATM machine. Homeowner wants to put on new siding....Refinance! Homeowner wants to put on an addition, paint the house, take the kids on a vacation, shopping spree, new car, vacation house, new lawn mower, new basketball hoop, college education...Refinance! I know this sounds strange coming from a mortgage professional, and I do make my living through refinances, BUT it is not always the best solution. Many different variables go into a refinance along with fees. Deciding to take the plunge needs proper planning, but more importantly, it takes a pad, a pencil, a calculator, and an honest mortgage professional to guide you along the way. Many sub-prime loans were taken out with some interesting options and descriptions in order to create a lower payment. Many of these refinances were done based on the notion that the value would increase forever, and more equity would be available later. Some really paid the price because of the product chosen. Here are just a few examples of these exotic products: Interest Only loan - homeowners pay only the interest that accrues on the loan. They are not required to pay any of the principal. This offered homeowners a lower payment on which they could qualify. 40 and 50 year terms - in order to reduce the monthly expense and qualify for a lower payment, many borrowers were offered longer terms. By stretching out the loan to 40 or 50 years, payments on loans would decrease several hundreds of dollars, allowing homeowners to buy or refinance more house. Negative Amortization Loans - The "Neg -AM" loan actually allowed borrowers to pay less than the interest each month. The loan balance on this product would increase each month because homeowners were not required to pay the interest accruing on the home. Many homeowners were losing hundreds of dollars in interest each month. The "Fixed - Adjustable" Loan - this is a term created by sub-prime lenders that created the illusion borrowers were in a fixed product. The "fixed" period lasted for 1, 2, or 3 years, then the loan would adjust. Many times these loans were sold with high margins which would increase interest rates by 2 or 3 percent. Often times these are considered "teaser rates". (This is a term I have heard from many homeowners trying to refinance in the last year. In my opinion, it was a tactic to trick borrowers into specific loans) Most homeowners in the products above have already come to realize the product was not what they were expecting, and some are finding out the hard way that a drop from a 50 year term to a 30 year term, regardless of the rate, makes a pretty significant dent in their monthly budget. I just wonder how many people in the loans described above actually took the loan not to lower their rates or consolidate debts, but to use the money for something more enjoyable. I can tell you from experience, many just refied because they were accustomed to a lifestyle and needed some cash to continue. Now they are paying the price. When it comes to a refinance, first ask yourself the question..."what am I trying to do?" Do you need cash for a necessity, or are you trying to keep up with the Jones? Can you save for the next several months to get what you want? Do you have money in a rainy day fund that you can use? What is in your checking or savings account? Often times, a Refinance is a Great Option and can accomplish many goals! Decreasing your rate, shortening your loan term, consolidating debts, getting out of an adjustable and into a fixed are all excellent reasons to refinance. You still need to run the numbers and make sure it makes sense. Talk with a mortgage professional that is looking out for your best interest, and will tell you if a refinance is not the best option. To find out more about refinance opportunities and whether a refinance makes sense for you, check out our website today at www.tmmortgagegroup.com or call 1-800-696-1424.

Poor Credit and Depreciation....Do I have to call you back?

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:20:59 -0700

My cell phone rang again today. Another potential borrower looking to refinance off a piece of my direct mail. I don't think I get more excited than when I hear "I got a piece of mail from you and I would like to refinance. Can you help me?" The excitement is one thing......REALITY IS ANOTHER! In the last 6 months, I have talked to at least a hundred homeowners that are upside down on their house. They owe $200,000 on a house worth $150,000. It is so difficult to do, but I have to call back and break the bad news to the homeowner. Most already knew before even calling me. They have tried in the past, have been promised the world, and never heard back from the loan officer they were dealing with. I understand why a loan officer wouldn't want to call back, but it is the least we can do for a homeowner. My thought process is simple. Homeowners need help, but more importantly, they need a bit of advice and a little education. At the very least, I offer my potential borrowers a game plan as to what to do over the next 6 months to a year, along with a little knowledge. Some are only months away from help. An FHA loan at 97% LTV may be the solution in December, but we need the housing market to pick up before we can do anything. I never give a time frame, but I do tell all my borrowers that real estate goes in cycles, and hopefully, we are at the bottom of this one. A good payment history and some luck will get them out of their jam in the future. Something simple I do that I find so many mortgage professionals neglect to do is go over the credit report with potential clients. How do you fix something that is broken without knowing which part is messed up? A simple 5 minute conversation, along with a little hand holding can change a turn down into a client in 6 months. Most borrowers don't know the difference between a 700 fico score and a 530, other than the obvious 170 points. How does a borrower improve credit and what steps can a borrower take? 5 minutes of my time and at least I feel like I am contributing to the healing of this mess that we are in right now. If the value of the house has dropped significantly, the time frame is much longer, but I am not going anywhere! Maybe I can't help the homeowner for a year or two, but I will still need to close loans in 24 months won't I? Any call I ever recieve is a potential client......I just don't know how long it is going to take. I am sure there are many buyers out there that cannot qualify for a loan right now. Just remember, they are renting now, but they are going to be a buyer some day. You just don't know when. It makes sense to be there when they are ready and qualified to do so.

Home Values Decreasing - Who Can Benefit in a Slow Housing Market?

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:49:21 -0700

Is it possible that someone can benefit from decreasing home values, record setting foreclosures, short sales and a volatile economy? Not only is it possible, it is happening daily! Home Buyers are finding bargains on every corner and now the buyer seems to be holding all the cards. We have all heard the saying, “what goes up, must come down”. This is true of the housing market. Values skyrocketed since 2003 and now we are seeing a correction. Housing values are going to increase again, just not like they have in the past. 15 to 25% appreciation is a dream, but purchasing at the bottom of the market will show you some aggressive appreciation over the next 5 to 10 years. The 100% loan is gone unless you are a Veteran. Stated loans were called “liar loans” for a reason. They have vanished! Reality has set in for lenders and borrowers must prove income, have good credit, and have money for a down payment. If you are one of these borrowers and are currently looking for a new home, you may be getting the deal of a lifetime! A seller concession (kind of like a cash back rebate) can help offset most closing costs in an FHA loan. This loan only requires a 3% down payment (which can be a gift) and an average credit (580) score or higher. Rates on these loans are very close to conventional rates and higher loan amounts (up to $729,750) are available through the end of 2008. Debt Free, money in the bank, a good income and a good credit rating? Start looking on the corners for that “deal of a lifetime”! To learn more about loans available in this buyer’s market, check out www.tmmortgagegroup.com or call 1-800-696-1424.

Website Rankings - what is realistic?

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:00:34 -0700

I have been doing a lot of self promotion on the internet over the last few months. I have participated in the Active Rain community which I think is great. I have published articles on Ezine, and have had several other articles published on a site called the American Chronicle. I also had a press release done on my new website. I have received a couple of good comments and one application from a borrower that found me on the net. I am just trying to see what you have experienced in regards to your self promotion and time frame. If I blog 3 times a week and continue to submit articles to different online sites, can I expect to have 1 new client a month? 1 every 3 months? I know active rain does a lot, but I was looking for some honest feedback so I am able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know I am getting in the game late, but would really like to see this flourish. Any insight would be much appreciated! Tim

Nationwide Mortgage Services Introduces Virtual Loan Department

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:59:55 -0700

Nationwide Mortgage Services, based in Rockville, MD, has introduced a new Virtual Loan Department to help consumers navigate the programs and products available in the current mortgage market. With fewer lenders and strict lending guidelines, fewer options have become available to consumers. Nationwide Mortgage Services has introduced this streaming audio and video to simply the process for the consumer. Rockville, MD August 4, 2008 -- Nationwide Mortgage Services, a Rockville, MD company, has introduced a new Virtual Loan Department to help consumers navigate through new lending guidelines, practices and procedures. The new site developed in July will educate consumers on a variety of programs and products available in the "new" mortgage environment, while allowing the ability to shop for a mortgage program 24 hours a day. The Virtual Loan Department can be accessed at www.tmmortgagegroup.com. Nationwide has built a strong reputation as an outstanding mortgage brokerage firm and lender serving the lending needs of real estate professionals, builders and individual homebuyers throughout Maryland, Virginia, DC, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Florida. Nationwide is a full service mortgage broker with an experienced staff offering expertise in every area of mortgage lending...from purchase to refinance to construction lending. Nationwide has access to a full range of mortgage sources and all lending specialists are dedicated to finding the right loan-with the best rates, terms and costs-to meet the borrowers unique needs. Throughout the lending process, Nationwide provides loan updates and progress reports to consumers and real estate professionals alike. Now all of our mortgage services are available online through the Virtual Loan Department. The consumer will have access to the best loans available in the marketplace simply by submitting a secure application online. Customers can fill out a form and be given several real-time quotes through the virtual loan department. Borrowers will now have access not only to the best loans available in the marketplace, but you can also review loan alternatives, 24 hours a day. "The mortgage industry has changed so drastically over the past year that many borrowers are unclear of options available to them. Our goal is to help educate the borrower, provide an assortment of options available, and provide the most competitive rates in the industry. Our Virtual Loan Department will allow the consumer to shop on their terms and their time table" - Tim Marose, Vice President of Residential Lending, Nationwide Mortgage Services. For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release, please contact Tim Marose or visit www.tmmortgagegroup.com Contact:Tim MaroseVice President of Residential LendingNationwide Mortgage Services4 Research Place, Suite 140Rockville, MD 20850301-217-5858 x637

Simple Credit Repair for Home Buyers, Refinance, Debt Consolidation. Easy Qualify by Tim Marose

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:54:49 -0700

Qualifying for a mortgage today is tough! A credit score below 580 makes it almost impossible to get a loan. A score below 650 presents challenges as well. Every point counts, so here are a few simple steps to increase your score in a short period of time. 1) Pay down the balance on your credit cards. The closer you are to your limit on a credit card, the more impact it has on your score. If you have a Visa card with a $1000 limit, and owe $992, you have used up 99.2% of your available credit. Pay that down to $500, and you only owe 50% of the limit. Your scores will move up. 2) Don’t close the cards once you pay them down or off. The credit bureaus score better when you have available credit. Closing a $5000 Visa without a balance takes away a huge chunk of available credit. Leaving that account open without a balance shows you have a resource for funds if needed. 3) Don’t let your accounts be 30 days late. A payment that is 15 days late may cost you a hefty late fee, but being 30 days late on an account will cost you a ton of points on your credit report. Put a budget together and get your accounts paid before 30 days. 4) If you have no choice but to be late, pay the biggest balances first, and work down to the smallest. The bigger the payment, the bigger the impact a late payment of 30 days will cause. A payment 15 days late will likely not harm your credit report. To learn more ways to improve your credit and to qualify for a loan, check out www.tmmortgagegroup.com or call 1-800-696-1424.

Get Pre-Qualified Prior to Shopping for Your Next Home

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:37:02 -0700

A good idea for many homebuyers, regardless of their location is to get pre-qualified for a loan. The process is easy, and can help avoid a the heart break of finding the perfect home, and then finding out out your lender can't offer you financing. The internet has allowed new homebuyers the luxury of looking for houses at any time of the day with the point and click of a mouse. Countless websites list properties with all of the amenities and many sites will give a "virtual tour". The allows the prospective home buyer to see what the interior and exterior of the home looks like before visiting the property. This inside look of a property can give you the "feel" of the home and many times sway a potential buyer one way or the other. Many times, a new home buyer can fall in love with a property before they even look at it in person. So the internet savvy home buyer finds a home online that they must see. They contact a real estate agent (which is always a great idea when buying a home. It costs the buyer nothing and the agents are the experts when it comes to neighborhoods, prices, etc.) and schedule an appointment to see the home. Once there, they realize the pictures online didn't do the home justice. It is more beautiful and everything about the home is gorgeous. In the buyers mind, they are ready to sign the papers today. Now, their real estate agent tells them they should secure financing of the property in order to put a contract on the house. My phone rings, and after a few conversations, we realize that their dream home is no longer realistic, because the buyers can't qualify for the payment. The potential buyers are devastated and extremely disappointed to say the least. This disappointment could have been prevented if the buyers knew exactly what they would qualify for by making a simple phone call. If the same buyers called me to discuss their situation, and I was able to pre-qualify them, they would have avoided this issue. If a buyer qualifies for a purchase price of $300,000, they are not browsing the internet for homes in the $500,000 range. A buyer may window shop a bit in the higher price range, but once pre-qualified they know exactly what monthly payment they can afford. Another reason buyers should pre-qualify....A good mortgage professional may help you qualify for a higher price. Many times I see credit reports with errors, and they are easily fixed with a little documentation. Going about cleaning up credit on your own may take months, while working with a loan officer with access to a rapid rescore system can straighten things out in as little as 48 hours. In addition, many times buyers just need to understand how the credit system works, and by paying off certain bills prior to the purchase, they can qualify for a larger loan, increasing their credit score, and paying lower lower rates and fees. New pricing goes into effect on November 1st with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that will actually cost you quite a bit of money if your credit score is not 740 or higher. In the past a score above 700 was a virtual guarantee you would qualify for the best rates, but substantial losses by the two mortgage giants are costing many homebuyers more. Working with a lender that can help get your score above 740 prior to shopping for that home makes a lot of sense. To find out more about pre-approval, visit www.tmmortgagegroup.com today or call me at 1-800-696-1424.

Mortgage Professional Searching for the Next "HOT" Profession

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:10:35 -0700

It seems like every other day I hear about another friend or colleague deciding to get out of the industry. "It is too tough man, you just can't make a living doing this" was the most recent line I heard. At this point, I just agree and wish them well, realizing that for some, they have mentally checked out of this industry a long time ago. Many of them tell me what the next "hot" profession is going to be, and how they are going to "kill" it doing this or doing that. I wish I wasn't so stubborn, because some of the ideas could be really good. I have heard from some that I should look into getting into the "Green" industry. There are probably a million jobs trying to help conserve energy, or reduce what is going into our landfills. But I would probably have to recycle all the time right? I would have to sneak up on people in parking lots in my Prius. Would I have to put solar panels all over my house and one of those big windmills in my front lawn? I think I would really have to commit to that. I don't know if I have the discipline. I like sports, especially golf. Maybe I could practice a lot and qualify for the Senior Tour someday? Play golf 7 days a week, practice putting in my basement, see a sports psychologist 4 days a week? I like the idea of playing golf 7 days a week, but the fact that I suck could hurt my chances. With my severe lack of talent, my income could suffer, but I really do like golf. I may have to think about this a little harder. Maybe I could become a weather man? I like sunny days, I don't like when it rains, and I am more accurate than the guy I watch about 95% of the time. Maybe that is my niche and I didn't realize it for all of these years. Al Roker has been there a long time. I wonder how long until he retires? If I get on it now, maybe I can do weekends just to start and see how it goes from there. I could always go back to school, just not the same school. My professors were happy to see me go the first time, I just can't imagine they would take me back. Not to mention, I was about as good of a student as I am a golfer, so...... Maybe I could convince the wife to be a stay-at-home dad? My kids are cool, they like me! I don't think that would be nearly as hard as I hear. Couple meals a day, Sponge-bob marathons, a couple play groups here and there. Yeah,..........Forget it! My wife is a saint and there is no chance I could ever do that one. I felt guilty even writing that. Sports Trainer? Don't like to sweat anymore. Construction Worker? Could I wear gloves? My hands blister easily. Electrician? I don't even like it when my kids rub their feet on the floor and shock me. Politician? Yeah, so I can be as popular as Bush? Am I too old for American Idol? Dancing with the stars looks fun? Will I get one of those tall leggy women? Game Show Host? I am really stuck here. This was a lot tougher than I thought. Ok, I got it! Why don't I stay in the mortgage business? It has been really tough for the last year, so many others are getting out. Real Estate has cycles. People are always going to buy houses and need to refinance. I live in a great market and have 10 years of experience. I wouldn't have to learn a new profession, or have to go back to school. I wouldn't even have to upgrade my website or anything. No resume? No interviews? That may be so crazy, that it actually makes sense. It may take months or even years, but it is going to happen, and I am going to be here, loving every minute of it!

Six Degrees of Seperation.....how about 1 or 2 in Ocean City, MD?

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:19:06 -0700

I recently read a book while on vacation titled "No More Cold Calling" by Joanne Black. I was at one time a firm believer in cold calling. I managed hundreds of loan officers and believed that hard work and pounding the phones was the easiest way to make a living in the mortgage industry. I have matured over the last couple of years and already know that "cold calling" is nothing more than an annoyance to people, and 95% of the time, you get nothing more than an irritated consumer. I didn't need the book to figure this out, but I am always looking for new ways to attract more business. One of the interesting things the book mentioned was the "six degrees of seperation", and how that changed to "two degrees of seperation" in an airport. The reason for this is the people you are traveling next to are either going home or leaving home. It was a pretty interesting section and it really got me thinking.....What would be the degree of seperation in a vacation spot such as Ocean City, MD or Bethany Beach? I wanted to put my thoughts to the test. Now I must mention, I am not the guy that walks into a room and has to get to know every person. I will say hello to strangers and smile at most people I pass on the street. I hold doors for everyone and will pull over to help someone change a tire (OK, so this has decreased over the years a bit out of fear, but I still do it for little old ladies:-) ) I will usually just not start a conversation and find out the entire details of someone's life. I have many friends that do this all the time and I always chuckle at how much information people are willing to share to complete strangers in line for an event. So, this excercise was going to be a little out of my comfort zone, but I was going to see how it worked. Now, I just needed to find a person or two to test my theory. First opportunity was at a drug store. While at the beach, my son cut his foot and we needed to go to medical center. Couple bandages and off we went to Happy Harry's Drug Store. While waiting for the prescription to be filled, I noticed a gentleman who appeared to be waiting for a prescription as well. Here was my opportunity to start a conversation and test my new theory. I made some comment about drug stores and vacation and the next thing you know we are discussing kids and different things for the kids to do at the beach. It turns out the guy was from Pennsylvania and was vacationing in Ocean City with his family. His daughter had an ear infection....you get the point. A few more probing questions and we started talking about golf and different places to play in Central PA. Couple more questions and I find out that he plays golf at a course outside of York, a place I played several times, and he knows an old co-worker of mine that plays their quite often. So after about 3 minutes of chatter, I found that we have a common friend in Pennsylvania and I made sure to give the guy a few cards and make sure he delivers one to our friend. I also made sure to mention that we lend in Pennsylvania as well as Maryland, Virginia, and DC. Pretty interesting experiment, but maybe I just got lucky. Golf is a pretty easy way for me to get a conversation rolling, so I needed to try another route. I would try it at a restaurant. So the entire family goes out to eat for crabs. We sit down and before we even have a chance to order our drinks, we hear a family talking about Good Counsel High School at the table behind us. Way too easy!!! 5 minutes later my extended family and I are discussing this person and that person and all the different people we know. Even though we were not eating together, it sure felt that way. Our two hour crab feast included conversations going back and forth all night. I didn't pull out any business cards, but happened to meet some really great people from Olney, MD. I live about 5 miles away in Laytonsville so I wouldn't be surprised if we see each other again in the very near future. So, I guess my experiment and what I read in the book makes sense. A lot of people that travel to the Ocean City beaches are from the DC Metro area, and it is worth my time to start some conversations. The one or two degrees of seperation in Ocean City, may someday be worth a referral or two. I know some of you are probably thinking that this is pretty basic, but don't forget, I am not your "typical" salesperson that starts conversations everywhere I go. I ease into them. Maybe I do this because of the cold calling background....I automatically think people aren't interested in talking to me.......Hmmm, might be something I have to tackle on this site tomorrow. www.tmmortgagegroup.com

Credit Issues? You may not want to wait much longer

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:50:06 -0700

Many homeowners needing to refinance are waiting. They are waiting for rates to come down. Waiting for the value of their homes to increase. They are waiting for lenders to ease up on their underwriting guidelines and make it easier to qualify for a loan. Waiting may cost you a lot of money!!! Fannie Mae, the largest US mortgage - finance company announced on Wednesday it will increase the fee charged to lenders to purchase mortgages on October 1st. The fee will increase from .25% to .50%. Just like any other tax or fee, this will no doubt be passed on to the consumer, making it more expensive for future home buyers and those looking to refinance. Waiting much longer may get real expensive in the very near future. The majority of loans made in this country are ultimately sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Both companies are taking tremendous losses and looking for ways to increase capital. An increase in mortgage delinquency along with record numbers of foreclosures will force the two mortgage giants to increase fees to lenders. Lenders are not in positions to take on those fees, and ultimately will pass them along to the homeowners. Homeowners waiting for the next dip in rates may have already missed that opportunity. The real estate industry has done its own version of the hokey pokey in the last year and a half. Every few days it seems we take one step forward, then take another two back. New programs are announced one day, and rates increase the next to offset any opportunities available. The housing market is looking for a shot in the arm to move forward, and this is not going to help. This cost could ultimately have all homeowners dancing two steps back. For homeowners with marginal credit waiting for rates to dip, you may want to contact your mortgage lender now and find out what options are available. Better to be safe now than sorry in the very near future. For more information on programs available, check out my virtual loan department at www.tmmortgagegroup.com.

My mortgage broker told me not to refinance.....is he crazy?

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:15:31 -0700

In the last few months, I have run into several scenarios where borrowers are looking to refinance their home and I simply tell them I don't think it makes sense. No, you don't have to re-read that sentence, you read it correctly. I turn away customers all the time because I don't think a refinance makes sense. The real estate business and the mortgage business has been brutal over the last year. It has become more difficult every day to find programs for prospective clients. Why would a mortgage broker ever turn business away? The answer is a lot simpler than you may think. Putting a borrower in a good loan is a very satisfying feeling. Knowing that a borrower has received a great rate along with excellent service is something all mortgage brokers should strive for. Taking the time to get to know borrowers and their situations allows qualified brokers to customize programs and products. There are occasions when borrowers have been scared into thinking they MUST refinance, and that is simply when a qualified broker will take the time to explain all options available. Let me say this before you read any further. Some borrowers HAVE to refinance and do it quickly. A 3% jump in their interest rate and several hundreds of dollars a month in payments may cause financial difficulty for years to come. However, not everyone falls into this category. Let me give you an example. Mr. Jones is in an adjustable rate mortgage at 5%. This loan is set to adjust in August of 2010. He has two more years before he sees an adjustment. Mr. Jones has read all of the negative press in the papers and sees daily about all of the big lenders tightening their qualifications. Mr. Jones is scared that his loan is going to adjust to a payment he cannot afford and he will lose his house. However, Mr. Jones has always paid his bills on time and his credit score is well above 700. He has a solid job history with a tremendous amount of security. Overall, his situation is fantastic, but he opted for the adjustable rate mortgage a few years ago and is now nervous that he made a bad decision. Time for Mr. Jones to grab a piece of paper, a calculator, and a pen and see where his break even point will be. Mr. Jones currently has a 200,000 mortgage at 5%. His principal and interest payment is $1074 per month. If he gets out of his adjustable rate mortgage today and gets himself into a 6.25% rate, his new payment on a 30 year note will be $1231, and we are assuming he will bring ALL closing costs to the table. So in easy terms, his new payment will increase by $157 per month but he no longer has an adjustable rate mortgage. Since Mr. Jones has good equity in his home and excellent credit, he has options. If he decides to stay in the loan for another year, he would have saved himself $1889 by taking advantage of the 5% rate, and he didn't need to withdraw several thousands of dollars from his savings account to cover closing costs. If he waits it out for another year, and rates jump to 7%, his payment is still only $1330. This is only $69 higher than he would have paid a year ago at 6.25%, but he took advantage of saving $1889 in the last 12 months. Mr. Jones is still ahead $1061! What if rates go down? Mr. Jones would feel pretty good then! Another reason I turn borrowers away is because they don't truly understand their adjustable rate mortgages. Not all adjustable rates jump two or three percent after the initial period. It is shocking to see the number of customers scared that their mortgage payment will jump by several hundreds of dollars only to find out after a brief consultation that the payment may go down! Just because someone said adjustable rate mortgages are bad on a tv show doesn't mean every single one fits into that box. Borrowers need to read and understand their paperwork, and a good mortgage broker will help a borrower do this. Sometimes that means you tell a customer they should sit tight and wait. Now, unless you know something I don't, there are no crystal balls that predict what is going to happen in the future. A new president, a weak dollar, oil prices soaring, lenders taking tremendous losses quarter after quarter, and on, and on, and on. Nobody can say for sure what is going to happen. However, taking the time to speak to a qualified mortgage broker and understanding what options are available may help you significantly. If your lucky, and you take the time to talk to a good mortgage consultant...they may just tell you to sit tight!

Omnibus Housing Bill - how it will help get us out of this mortgage mess

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:19:09 -0700

I am sure many of you are anxiously awaiting the Omnibus Housing Bill that recently passed through the house. Hopefully it will soon be passed by the Senate, and then signed off by the President. Here is what I have been hearing about the bill and how it can help get this market moving again. -- Raises loan limit for lenders to 115% of the local area median home price, up to $625,000 -- Raises limit on seniors' reverse-mortgage program to $625,000 -- Cap reverse mortgage origination fee at 1.5% -- New regulator for Fannie and Freddie, financed by the two firms -- Terminating seller funded DPA (Nehemiah, Ameridream, etc.) on 10/1/08 -- Placing a moratorium on risk based pricing (MIP) effective 10/1/08 -- No change to FHA broker eligibility -- FHA will streamline condo project approval process -- FHA minimum cash investment 3.5% - will be easier to calculate though -- The bill also authorizes the Treasury secretary to expand credit and buy equity shares in Fannie or Freddie if necessary. The Congressional Budget Office estimates this would cost an extra $25 billion if it happened. -- Raises limit on federal debt to $10.6 trillion, from $9.8 trillion -- Fund to provide more low-income housing: $5.3 billion -- Tax credits for first-time home buyers: $4.6 billion -- Grants for state and local governments to buy foreclosed homes: $3.9 billion -- FHA insurance for up to $300 billion of home loans: $729 million -- Counseling for homeowners facing foreclosure: $210 million -- Loosens restrictions on how states issue tax-exempt housing bonds -- Keeps lenders from foreclosing or increasing mortgage interest on returning troops for a year. Creates financial-counseling program, increases home-loan limit for military veterans: $112 million Tim Marose www.tmmortgagegroup.com

Leads Groups - Do they work in the Mortgage Industry?

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:56:41 -0700

Trying to keep up the momentum of my newly found advertising experience, I attempted to join a leads group today. For those of you unfamiliar, the concept is pretty awesome. You find professionals from every walk of life, meet once a week, and exchange ideas and more importantly, leads. The reason I decided to join this group was because a friend told me about a recent vacancy of a mortgage professional. I heard that the woman decided to get out of the industry and move to another state, so I thought this would be a great opportunity. I showed up to the lead group to find 3 other mortgage professionals in the group. A total of 10 people in the entire group, and 4 were mortgage brokers or lenders! Wow, this should be fun, one lead a month to share between 4 people? Does one person get the lead and we all get to share the commissions? Should I politely pack up my stuff and wish them all luck because there are way too many cooks in this kitchen? Nah, let me hang on for a while and get a better idea of what it is all about. Each member of the group gets a minute or two to discuss what they do for a living, what makes them unique, why we should send them leads, and their perfect customer. Some really good people to network with. A financial planner, realtor, painter, home improvement guy, title rep, advertising rep, a printer, a computer guy, an accountant, and 4 mortgage professionals. Remove the three other mortgage guys in the room, and this is the place to be. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Several leads changed hands and I actually had two that I held on to because I didn't want to look like I was sucking up. I figured I would wait until next week and see if one or two of the others bailed. I love poker, I will continue to raise with a 7 high if I know I got a shot at winning. So for now, I am sitting back watching the table and waiting for someone to tip their hand.

Advertising for Mortgages - Mistakes I made - What is next for me?

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:13:00 -0700

In the past year, I have tried it all. I have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on various lead sources and marketing efforts. Some were decent while others were just a waste of money. There were a few things I learned throughout the process, and thought I would share them with you in my first ever blog. Internet lead services promise you the world. I have dealt with 4 separate ones within the last year. The sales rep tells you just how easy it is. “Prospects go online looking for a mortgage. They supply everything but date of birth and social. You will know exactly how much they owe, the interest rate, the value of the home, the bedrooms, baths, when they purchased, etc. You get the lead real time and call them and take an application. If you have a program for them, it is as simple as a sold loan. Check out this site and see how we are ranked number 1 on this site, and number 2 on this site, blah, blah, blah” Then you fill out the contract and reality sets in. All the perfect leads that you were expecting are no longer on these sites. If anyone is aware of a 150% LTV loan, stated, with a 3 month residence history, and a bankruptcy within the last year, please let me know. I have a ton of clients that fit into this box. You can't blame the consumer....most of these people thought they were clicking on a site to find out what current interest rates were. Instead, they are being inundated with calls from the 5 different companies the leads were sold to. Once they have their credit pulled, now that creates a "trigger lead" which is sold to another 5 or 10 companies. So, when you finally talk to the client after calling 8 times, they simply hang up because all they wanted was to see what interest rates were that day. Would you blame them? A "good" lead gets so fed up with the process that they stop answering the phones. Some have even changed their number. This is why I like to call these leads 30 days out once all the calls have stopped. If you shop around, you can find some good "dated" loans for pennies on the dollar. This has been a pretty good investment for me. Telemarketing companies really make things sound easy. Pay this dollar amount, and you will receive live transfers from borrowers that are double certified to do business with you. I think what they mean by double certified is that they have a house, and they own a phone, because none of the other filters I requested were met. I realize that people don't want to believe that there home value has declined (I understand, I am in the same boat), but most of these leads are well above 100 LTV. The kicker was that instead of getting live transfers, I was getting paper leads because nobody wanted to be transferred from the telemarketer to the loan officer. I basically sat by the phone for 3 hours every night waiting for a live customer, only to find 10 paper leads the next morning that I had to telemarket and resell. 216 paper leads and transfers in two months....1 loan! Money well spent? Yeah, according the telemarketing company that told me a longer contract and a bigger financial commitment would get me more customers. What? Have you heard of the DNC list? Hey Sparky, telemarketing is dead! On to direct mail! This one can’t miss. I will target customers “currently in adjustable rate mortgages, that are about to adjust within the next year, with less than 80% LTV, more than 10,000 in credit card debts, and have been in the home for more than 5 years. The list has been compressed, compiled, scrubbed, sanitized, mesmerized, scrubbed against the national do not move list.” Huh? I think you are now making this up! Regardless, this is WAY TO EASY! I will be helping everyone I talk to. Just spend $2800 on 5000 mailers and my phone will ring off the hook. “Great! How quickly can I get these mailers sent out because I want to help everyone today?” “What do you mean you only sent half of the 5000 mailers out? The other 2500 will be sent the last two weeks of July when everyone and their families are on vacation?” Hopefully, they will realize that they spent too much money on vacation and will have to refinance in order to get their debts in order. Maybe if I sign another contract for another few months, that will get me the better list of customers that really respond?! Nah, I know sucker is stamped on my forehead, but I don’t need you making it any darker with another stamp. The funny thing is when I spoke to all of these sales reps for the various companies; they all made everything too good to be true. I know that rule, but I didn’t believe it. The same reps that kept in constant contact with me prior to the contract being signed, are now nowhere to be found. Is it possible these companies can stay in business if this is the return each one provides? Maybe they are all telling me the truth….”Tim, this never happens man. I can’t believe how low the response rate was. I just don’t get it. I think if we sign up for another 3 months we will more than double your response!” Dude, 2 x 0 is still 0! I know you are all probably thinking that this guy must be the worst loan officer in the world and couldn’t close a screen door, but I have to say, I am pretty darn good. I can also say, the people that work with me aren’t too shabby either, yet we all had the same result. So, I am on to my new project. So this is one part of my new project. A new website (www.tmmortgagegroup.com ) and a new blog. I will keep you posted on my success or failure of this venture. I am ahead of the game so far. I didn’t drop a cent on active rain!!!