Broker Magazine articles from November 2007

Broker Magazine archives from November 2007

Selling Vs. Marketing.
November 1, 2007... According to one expert on the topic, selling has a bad reputation among Americans. As a result many businesses are focusing more on marketing. But, said, Patrick Valtin, president of M2-TEC USA Inc., this swing is wrongheaded. "In...

Improving Workplace Morale.(workplace development)
November 1, 2007... In these troubled times in the mortgage industry, especially with massive layoffs and company closings, workplace morale is a major concern. Business consultant Linda Talley said it is up to the company's leader to turn the situation around....

Opportunities in Referral Marketing.
November 1, 2007... Business consultant Andy Birol comments, "If you run a company, lead a sales and marketing team, or sell for a living, you know that referrals are your best source of new business." He listed several reasons why, which while speaking of...

Focus on Four Areas for Success.
November 1, 2007... Drew Stevens, who calls himself the Sales Strategist, identifies four areas for operating a profitable business. They are sales, marketing, financial and corporeal. "Each requires requisite qualities. Business owners must focus on these...

Congress Moves to Ease Crisis: Industry supports FHA reform, but opposes bankruptcy bill.
November 1, 2007... CALIFORNIA Appraiser Pressure Bill Signed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law a Senate bill, which penalizes those who allegedly put pressure on appraisers to hit a predetermined value for a property, such as the...

Does Credit Repair Really Work?: The www.mortgagegrapevine.com community debates how effective are certain methods being touted as improving a consumer's credit score.
November 1, 2007... Depasquale7: Anybody using any good credit repair companies? I have some borrowers I would like to refer. How much do they charge, are they good, etc? BeachBongo: You don't really need their service if you understand what they do. Their...

Score Surgery: Rather than a quick fix that doesn't deal with problems with a consumer's credit, credit optimization providers look at the whole in their efforts to help improve the borrower's status.
November 1, 2007... Much to many consumers and even some industry member's chagrin, the credit score has taken on even more importance as funds for nonconforming loan originations have dried up. There is a cottage industry of people claiming they have ways of...

Forging Ahead: The New York Association of Mortgage Brokers is using a new state law to promote the professionalism of originators in these times of turmoil.
November 1, 2007... BRAD: It was just one year ago that the New York Association of Mortgage Brokers achieved its long-standing goal of getting the Mortgage Loan Officer registration and education bill passed. While many provisions go into effect Jan. 1, 2008, has...

Dear Brian: Industry expert Brian Sacks will be happy to answer your most pressing marketing questions each month in the Dear Brian column.(Column)
November 1, 2007... Dear Brian, We are entering the slower holiday season and needless to say, this has not been the best year. In fact I own a small shop and am truthfully barely hanging on. I never thought I would be writing this letter or sending it to you...

Top Loan Officers in 2006: Our annual survey returns a familiar name at the top of the list.(Survey)
November 1, 2007... The crown for top volume loan producer for 2006, according to an industrywide survey of loan officers, goes to a mortgage professional who distinguishes himself as "The Independent Mortgage Planner" and uses as his business motto, "Consistently...

Small-Commercial Referrals: Seek out providers of professional services to drum up business.
November 1, 2007... Most mortgage brokers agree that referrals are a productive way to generate new business. In fact, many successful brokers attribute a significant portion of their application volume to the family, friends and colleagues of past clients. ...

Using RD&T Marketing: Take ideas from other industries in order to help your business.
November 1, 2007... What the heck is the RD&T method? It stands for Rip Off, Duplicate and Tweak. It's thinking outside the box, taking ideas from other industries and using them to market yourself and your mortgage practice. Here are three examples of ideas...

Flipping the Switch: With all the turmoil in the business, is it time to move up from mortgage broker to mortgage banker?
November 1, 2007... For many in the mortgage industry, transitioning from mortgage broker to mortgage banker is part of a natural progression. If you want to grow your company, have more control of the process and make more money, then becoming a mortgage banker...

The Silent Mortgage Boom: Three ways for originators to cash in on hard money opportunity.
November 1, 2007... Today's turbulent mortgage market has created an opportunity for the flexible originator to capitalize on an underserved sector of borrowers. Carving out a business in hard-money loans can be great option for originator's who can persevere with...

Upcoming Sales and Marketing Conferences - BROKER: November 2007 to February 2008.
November 1, 2007... November 7-8 Annual Expo and Trade Show Michigan Mortgage Broker Association Cobo CenterDetroit, MITel: 517-371-8023 November 14-15 10th Annual Responsible Lending Conference ACI The BellagioLas Vegas, NVTel:...

Advertisers' Index.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... A La Mode 23 Accidental Millionaire/1Touch 8 Ameritime Mortgage Co. 37 Citi/InterFirst 11 CreditXpert 41 Direct Marketing 43 ...