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A Rare Tell-All On ActiveRain: 20 Secret Things That REALTORS Wish Mortgage Brokers Knew

By
Mortgage and Lending with Platinum Home Mortgage Company NMLS #238304

When the following post was written, the title asked "Why Do Realtors Trash Marketing From Mortgage Brokers?" Somewhere in the discussion (97 comments at this point in time), our passionate Realtor community here on ActiveRain decided to drop 2 words from the title and engage in a rare tell all.

Those 2 words were "Marketing From".

So the truth is, I didn't write this post. You did, amazing readers. Thank you for your brilliance and your continued willingness to openly share ideas on these posts that you might NEVER say out loud to a mortgage person who wants to earn your business.

Almost everyone knows the 3 things Realtors would most like from potential mortgage partners. They are:

  • On time closings
  • Calls always returned promptly
  • Referrals to potential buyers

But there are other things that remain unspoken most of the time. These are the things that taint the Realtor-Mortgage Broker relationship, or at least make the learning curve much higher for mortgage professionals.

These relationships are often like arranged marriages. You learn as you go, and hope to fall in love.

The fact that these things have remained unspoken (until now) means knowing exactly how to establish successful relationships with Realtors has been, well, "challenging" is the word that comes to mind. 

Fortunately for our community, the discussion on this post morphed into something much greater than the post itself, with some pretty amazing results.

 

 

20 SECRETS REALTORS WISH MORTGAGE BROKERS KNEW:

  1. Don't pop by my office. It tells me you aren't working on your deals.
  2. I don't want to feel like I'm your "new source of leads".
  3. Don't ditch me just because you have refi business.
  4. It is hard for me to trust you because you are a direct reflection on me.
  5. I need to know you are in this for the long haul.
  6. My real test for for you is when its game time and you need to perform under pressure.
  7. It turns me off when I see you are looking out for yourself more than the client.
  8. I don't want your sales pitch, I don't want your donuts, and I'm pretty sure I don't want your rate sheets, either.
  9. Dude, if you just discovered FHA, I'm not giving you a loan.
  10. If your rates are lower than everyone else, I wonder what strings are attached for my buyer.
  11. Tell me how you will solve the problem without scaring me.
  12. I DO want a backup mortgage person. I'm just not going to go out  looking for you.
  13. Don't treat my client like a burden, or something you need to endure.
  14. If you drop off flyers at my office, you should be charged for disposing of them.
  15. Make it seem painless.
  16. My biggest fear is that I will need to apologize because I referred you.
  17. When I am the listing agent, I am watching you in action, and grading your performance.
  18. If I don't know you, you are not getting my customer's name. It isn't about your marketing, its about our relationship.
  19. When you explain the loan to me, I am imagining you are explaining it to the client.
  20. I just might call you sight unseen if I like your blog.

 

Written by Janet Guilbault, Mortgage Lending Specialist Based Out of the San Francisco Bay Area

 

Readers and subscribers: My next post, "The Great Hidden Agenda: Why Banks Really Want to Get Rid of Mortgage Brokers" was orginally set to be released today. I will release it tomorrow morning (Friday) instead.

Comments(69)

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Paul McFadden
Responsive Pest Control - Seattle, WA
Pest Control, Seattle, WA.

Janet: Wonderful and insightful post. Thank you! Keep up the great work!

 

Paul

Feb 05, 2009 05:45 AM
Janet Guilbault
Platinum Home Mortgage Company - Walnut Creek, CA
San Francisco Bay Area Direct Mortgage Lender

Sheldon: I always say relationships are like checking accounts. You have to make a deposit before you can spend your money. People who just want to know you for what they can get from you are people who have bounced a check.

Although I hate to be in pressure situations, I always view them as an opportunity to shine by telling everyone involved ASAP what has happened....and what we are going to do about it.

Feb 05, 2009 05:47 AM
JB Brookman
JB Brookman Photography - Franklin, TN
High School Senior Portrait Photographer

Informative, witty and enjoyable to read, as usual... thanks, Janet!

Feb 05, 2009 06:14 AM
Janet Guilbault
Platinum Home Mortgage Company - Walnut Creek, CA
San Francisco Bay Area Direct Mortgage Lender

Joe at Flagstar: Well, I am honored you decided to make such a long and thoughtful comment here. Please let me know if you do write your post, because your question is one that is at the center of this discussion...one I asked on the original post, and one I have written about many times.

Why don't Realtors gladly make the effort to find world class mortgage brokers? I don't know!

At my former company I always objected to the amount of time and money the owner spent  financially indulging the Realtor community. To me, a mortgage company should not be a sugar daddy to the local Realtors. I am sorry, but to me this sends the wrong message. Things that come free are rarely appreciated.

He bought lunch for a Real Estate office every Wednesday for 3 years. They never gave him a single loan. I had begged him to use that $400 a month for something different. Now his office is closed. 

PS I use Flagstar Bank for loans.

Feb 05, 2009 06:30 AM
Jennifer Monroe
Indigo Home Team powered by Compass - Charlotte, NC
Real Estate REALTOR®/Broker/Designer

Wow!! I'm printing this out for the future and faxing it to any broker that lets me down. I complain about all of these things and still... they don't listen. #16 is the biggest issue I've had to deal with and I'm tired of being let down and looking bad because I've failed to assemble a competent team for my clients.

btw... I HAVE fallen in love with a mortgage broker/banker :) And it couldn't be sweeter!

Feb 05, 2009 07:13 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Yeah, we all know how sweet your "mortgage guy" is Jennifer.  Most of us here on AR already know that and I think someone even mentioned it in the comments somewhere.  Personally, if I ever had a need for a mortgage professional in PA, Jason Sardi would be the only person I would call and/or refer.  In the brief time I've been a member of the Rain, he has definitely won my respect and admiration.

Feb 05, 2009 07:32 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Janet - AMEN &  BRAVO!!!   Loved the analogy of the checking acct and deposits.  If there is anything that we can learn from this post, or perhaps remember, it is the Golden Rule.  We all remember that, right?  Treat others as you would have them treat you.  It's a wonderful way to live and work because if there is any truth about this biz (whether it is real estate or mortgages) it is that you get what you give.  On that note.....  

If I've been working with my clients for any length of time (days/weeks/months), I assure, I know a heck of a lot more about them (I have already poured over all of their personal, financial and professional information) and what they want and need than you do in the five minutes that you've been talking at them about you and all of your "preferred" services. 

So, grant me the professional courtesy that I know what loan program is best for my clients and that I have explained to them exactly what they are getting.  If they are happy with me, the service that I'm providing and the products I have to offer, please grant me the professional courtesy of taking care of my clients without your interference or that of your in-house and/or "preferred" lender.  You do this for me and I promise when my clients complain about the properties you're showing them and how they wonder if you've heard a word they've said about what they're looking for, I will encourage them to talk to you about their concerns. 

BTW:  RED FLAG WARNING!  Anyone who absolutely insists you use their in-house and/or "associated" services or they won't work with you.  RUN NOW!  Run away as fast as you can.

Feb 05, 2009 07:46 AM
Jennifer Monroe
Indigo Home Team powered by Compass - Charlotte, NC
Real Estate REALTOR®/Broker/Designer

Donne... Was that a jab? And do I even know you? I didn't feel a need to mention his name because most here already know, but I had to laugh at Janet's line about how "These relationships are often like arranged marriages. You learn as you go, and hope to fall in love."  Given the often less than loving relationships between Realtors and Lenders, well... I don't have to explain.

This used to be such a happy place.

 

Feb 05, 2009 08:16 AM
Chris Olsen
Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH
Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

Great post, something a good loan officer would do well to internalize and implement.  The road also goes both ways.

I am always very leery about referring someone who I am not 100% sure will perform to my expectations.  I can spend months creating an incredible relationship (perhaps for life) only to have it blown out of the water by an errant allied service provider.

Feb 05, 2009 08:30 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

I was by no means making a jab at you Jennifer and if it sounded like that, I apologize profusely; that was most certainly not my intention.  Even though I'm a newbie here, I have read many posts where it was obvious who your "mortgage guy" is.

Just recently, I read a couple of sweet and rather poignant posts by you and your mortgage guy, that were so endearing and beautifully written and I thought "oh, how sweet is that".  That is what I meant by we all know how sweet your mortgage guy is.  Once again, if mentioning his name was a no-no, my bad and I hope you don't hold it against me.

Feb 05, 2009 08:32 AM
J. Philip Faranda
Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Associate Broker / Office Manager

As a RE Broker and former mortgage officer, I truly appreciate this list. Must reading for anyone in the biz.

Feb 05, 2009 08:38 AM
Karen Cooper
Karen Cooper | Sr Mortgage Loan Originator ! NMLS # 223305 | First Federal Bank of Florida, Ocala, FL - The Villages, FL
Helping Homeowners w/Home Loans in 27 US States

Hi Janet - Many of my social interactions are with - you guessed it...REALTORS! Because, I, too enjoy working with them, and mortgage and real estate brokers have many common interests. How could we be in this business if we didn't love it? I guess "for the money", would be another answer to that, but I mean in the business for the long haul... If we all work with the same buyers, we'd better be able to work well together. I believe personality is almost as important as competency in such a personal transaction as a home purchase and financing...I've been known to bow out of transactions due to personality alone.

So, although in 25 years I have experienced some amazing circumstances, I'll defer to Donne to write that one, :-)

Feb 05, 2009 09:24 AM
Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn
Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL
Author of Sell with Soul

Janet - later tonight when I'm not sleeping, I will read through all these comments because I know there's some fabulous stuff in there. But as for your post. BRILLIANT. I can't tell you how much I love this one... BRAVO!!!!! You so nailed the essence of what I and others have wanted to say, but weren't sure how.

Pat yourself on the back - you deserve it.

Feb 05, 2009 09:39 AM
Olga Vasquez
Park Regency - Granada Hills, CA
Olgasells

  Hi Janet: I believe this list have many important points of view,

Feb 05, 2009 10:08 AM
Mike Henderson
Your complete source for buying HUD homes - Littleton, CO
HUD Home Hub - 303-949-5848

Both sides really misunderstand each other in my opinion.

Feb 05, 2009 10:50 AM
Gerry Suarez Jr.
New American Funding NMLS 6606 - Orlando, FL
FL Mortgage Guru

Janet,

great post and so true...

but with so many responses I couldn't read them all and properly work my pipeline :-)!

I hope you'd agree in adding "and why again should I trust YOU with my paycheck?"

Gerry Suarez, Jr.

Your FHA Loan Pro!

Feb 05, 2009 11:19 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Janet, it takes a leap of faith to work with a new loan officer/broker, and I agree reading a blog gives you a certain transparency that sharing a donut can not come close to matching.

Feb 05, 2009 11:58 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

A leap of faith.  Wow, that pretty much says it all.  Are we willing to take a leap of faith, with our clients, and turn them over to someone we don't know, don't trust and have no previous experience with?

Most of my clients are referrals from people who know, trust and respect me and when they send someone to me, they expect me to take very good care of them.  I've work really hard to establish these relationship and I've worked even harder developing my skills and abilities that enable me to do what I do.  

In this market where escrows are getting harder and harder and where it can fall apart for any number of reasons.  Do I want a leap of faith to damage all the hard work I've spent on building those relationships.  Absolutely NOT!

Feb 05, 2009 12:57 PM
Kelsey Barklow
Hurd Realty - Johnson City, TN
423/948-9154

I am always hesitant to refer anyone I have not previously worked with because I don't want to have to apologize either. I have two lenders at the top of my Lender List that I refer with total confidence but I have others on my list that other Realtors have vouched for too.

Feb 06, 2009 02:20 AM
Loan Survivor Real Estate Financing Expert
Purchases, First Time Buyers, Pre-Approvals, Refinance - Birmingham, MI

Great post, but everyone's missing the most important factor in the preapproval process - borrowers are approved for a PAYMENT, not a loan amount or purchase price!

Talk about inadequate information.  Most preapproval letters only state a purchase price.  Here in Michigan, that's a major inadequacy as property taxes vary so much. 

Another issue is that interest rates can change quickly, lowering a borrower's purchasing power.

Our preapproval letter includes the following: date issued, all borrowers names, loan program, interest rate used to qualify, points, APR, LTV/CLTV, max PAYMENT, max loan amount, max purchase price, max seller contribution allowed and if it is needed for the borrower to qualify, and a comment section.

Don't get me started on agents that want loan originators to issue multiple preapproval letters so the seller, "won't know what the buyer can really afford"!

BTW - if anyone would like a copy of our preapproval letter template, just email me:)

Mar 16, 2009 03:25 PM