With a chair and a whip! 3:)
Actually, if you bring them a lot of business and are efficient and professional to work with . . . they'll quietly send business to you. They usually don't want to appear to 'play favorites' but will, if you let them on the QT.

     In my town, the Lenders host "socials", they also provide breakfast or lunch for the meetings at the Board of Realtors.  This is a good place to meet them, to hear them out, to establish a relationship.  See Julie Larson Realtor® Sarasota's answer about networking.

     If you are hosting an Open House or a Broker's Open, you can ask a lender to be present or to provide materials (be sure to comply with RESPA and other laws). 

    But as far as Lenders referring business to you (or to me or to any other agent or Broker), it's not likely.  See what Kathleen Daniels said about Corinne Guest, Managing Broker's comment.

I just wish I knew where you are going with this question.  I typically do not approach them ... they approach me.  I am cautious these days that is for sure.

I've never approached them. So far they keep on approaching me and asking me for business. Also I agree with many of the comments from my other fellow realtors. We are the feeders.

You build a relationship with lenders that you feel you can work with easily.

After sending them some business, they will know you are serious.  Then the time will be right for the conversation.  That is my opinion.

I have my own 3 choices of mortgage brokers....and I don't wander away.... 

Mine are all from networking and long time relationships; so like a friend and a partner. We're equals in every deal because we need each other. I have never understood the way other agents commodities Jason E. Gordon, my #1 lender; he's so good at what he does yet some of them treat him like a paper napkin instead of a partner. I never work with lenders that solicit me over a cold call.

Have a dialogue and give them some business first.

I get numerous emails, linkedin messages and FB messages from mortgage brokers weekly looking for business.  They are the ones chasing after us looking for business..  They don't feed us leads, they are looking for leads from us.

Based on their ability to produce positive results for the people I refer to them. Never relied on their referrals back to me, too few and far between!

Kareem,

I think Corinne Guest, Managing Broker has given you the perfect answer.  A

I'm a lender and sometimes we do receive our own self-sourced leads.  This may be from friends, family or others we know on a personal level who are looking for someone they trust...or from those who were referred to us.  And...as realtors do with their lender partners, we send them to a realtor who we trust and have a working relationship with.  That's what this industry is about...TRUST and professionalism!

However, most home buyers are shopping for homes not loans at the beginning...so they tend to go to Realtors first!  Realtors typically provide leads to the lender(s) they trust and have worked with to ensure the lead qualifys in order to not waste time and energy on someone who doesn't qualify YET (never give up on them...things can always turn around).  If a lender does a good job for the client(s) and helps close the deal in a smooth and on-time fashion, or keeps the realtor up-to-date on the buying potential of a lead, then they usually continue to receive leads from that realtor partner.  

I don't think you should stop building relationships with lenders.  This can still be a small source of income for you...and not many realtors go this route.  And, trust me...not all lenders are bad.  Most work hard and are honest...and are provding for their family as most hard-working Americans do.  We have to remember that we're all working towards the same goal - to help the consumer buy a home!

Best of luck starting out!!!  This is a great industry to be a part of.  Aloha!

As a Lender, I feel the frustration that many of you are expressing with regards to the one-sided referrals between Agents & Lenders. As a long-time Lender who spends a great deal of capital attempting to initiate leads for my Agent partners, the harsh reality is that the majority of Buyers are attracted to the "shiny object" (house) first...THEN they figure out how to pay for the shiny object after the fact (mortgage loan). We spend a great deal of money each month/year/quarter attempting to help Buyers understand that the logical first step in the home buying process is to obtain their PRE-APPROVAL Letter PRIOR to shopping for Homes.  If more Buyers pursued this method, we Lenders would have more opportunity to send PRE-APPROVED Buyers to our Agent Partners. I don't say this to provide an excuse, but rather an attempt to provide context. We continue to try and find ways of reciprocity in our ongoing pursuits of strengthening our relationships. Kudos to Agents like Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, CRS  for their bigger picture perspectives. We are all in this business as partners.

Kareem Matthews - they should get in touch with you - approach you!

Reach out to them to learn something and establish a relationship. Its a 2 way street..don't expect them to feed you clients..get out there and market for clients..your sphere, a niche, a community.. make it happen leave no stone unturned!

They typically approach us!

I like to sneak up behind them...

Always starts with a call.

I'm a big believer in business networking. You might check Meetup.com to see if there are any business networking meetups in your area. It's all about developing relationships and the business will come, Kareem Matthews.  :)

Kareem Matthews , or local association of Realtors meets monthly over lunch and "associates" are invited. Often more Lenders show up than Realtors (sadly) but it's a great time to visit with the lenders and create friendships.

First you ask yourself... "Why do I have to offer?" before approaching anyone.

I have several in place, usually get calls from 10 each week.

I meet them at events, trainings and networking.  After talking with a few and finding out what type of programs they offer if we click I will send buyers.  I refer 3 lenders - 2 very local one phone / online for manufactured homes.  

I find it best to work with lenders that offer programs for the type of buyers I have such as USDA / New Homes / Police, Dr. / Business Owners.  

I first need to see that they respond in a timely manner and are reachable evenings and on weekends.  A good lender is a major part of the team.  They need to be professional, ethical, have good programs and fees.  Their company needs to be one I believe in as well.  Lending is the last hurdle and after twenty years it is still elusive.

I don't. They approach me, or I get to know them when buyers I am working with are obtaining loans.

Very carefully...

 Seems like a great idea.

As a real estate professional you SHOULD have solutions available for buyers who skipped step one.

However, if an agent views LO as a lead source, disappointment lies ahead.

Let me now address YOUR question.
It begins with defining your business. If you are working the 1st time buyer market, you should be aware FHA is the preferred/only option.

Call, walk, knock or lay ambush for the LO who is beating the bushes for a rainmaker real estate agent. THEY WILL COME.

So you ask them;

"How may FHA backed loans have you completed in 2016?"

"DO you have sources that will finance land lease condos?"

"Describe is your preferred client?"

These questions take the measure of the LO. But you must understand the purpose of the question and realize the dimensions of the response. For example, question two, is an integrity test.

Finally, you MUST have no less than three lenders who can be held accountable and have predetermined specialties such as FHA, Non-conforming and portfolio lending. You can not know when the LO will go goofy and you'll will need to activate Plan B.

Love your blog title.

Candice A. Donofrio nailed this one!

I don't.  I have watched my clients work with lenders and the ones that do a good job for them will hear from future clients that still need a lender

The problem is that all loan officer do not always reciprocate with sending buyers to agents. Most often the loan officers come to me, i can get a lunch meeting and tell them what i want, what i need and what can work for both of us. Some will, some wont but it helps build relationships

With a direct question: What can you do and how fast can you do it

If you work in a medium to large size brokerage they will find you. Check their performance history with Realtors that you trust.

Kareem -  best advice is to  email them  with any ideas / questions and then follow up  with a call  a dauy or two later

Hi Kareem:

                   With 46 years in the Mortgage Business, a good Loan Officer would try and reach out to YOU! As for getting business......I NEVER give business to a Realtor, for I would loose all my other Realtors. Imagine if the word got out that Joe DAgostino was sending business to a Realtor? Do you think the other Realtors would send me business? I never have or will do that. I must remain neutral,and service all my buyers and Realtors equally. If I need to send a Realtor business in order to get business....I don't want to deal with them. After 46 years I am still very busy.

They approach me. 

For what purpose and I "approaching" them.. are they dangerous?

Typically they approach me at my OH. Why don't you just call some of the top producers in your area and ask for lender referrals? Then call them and introduce yourself.

I use experienced and trusted mortgage loan officers.

Typically through the front door.

In a perfect world, a buyer who is looking to purchase, would contact a lender first to get pre-approved before looking . However, that's not the way it works. They look for a house, call and agent for help, then the agent says"Are you pre-approved?" They say no, and the agent gives out some names of lenders who they contact. Therefore, since lenders are not the first contact, it's hard for lenders to get referrals to give the agents. It's not like we don't want to, it just that we don't get them. I've read that many agents are badmouthing lenders and underwriters, which needs to stop. Remember, without them, you don't have a deal and don't get paid. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Yes, I know you feed us also, but you will never hear me saying anything bad about agents. (We just think it🙀

Not sure what your meaning is on an approach other than competence and service.

with caution

Others have answered.

As with any kind of relationship, it takes time to build trust. As you work with mortgage lenders, you will find the ones you think are professional and do a great job. The real goal is to have good mortgage professionals who will service your buyers well. If they also give you a few leads, that would be great!

I don't understand your question... when I meet them, I say hello, I shake hands, I am polite. Besides, I have no need to approach... there are plenty who come to me.

Give them a call and/or start building relationships with them through networking events. 

Be careful as express here. If you do make contact ask the type of clients they service.