Earlier this week I met with my team at Mortgage Master to review goals for this year. This past year at the company has been great. I added a Loan Officer Assistant, Crystal and our main office moved to a beautiful new office in a more central location. Mortgage Master has also added to their management team, which has been beneficial by providing extra support to our mortgage originators. I’ve added additional tools to what I offer clients as well and I’m eager to start better implementing them into our services. I am constantly reviewing and trying new programs with the goal of helping clients have better tools and information to help make informed decisions for their mortgage needs.
My business in 2013 remained pretty much on track with a majority of my closed mortgage business coming from past clients either returning to me or referring their friends and family to me; real estate agents and financial advisors recommending me and also from people who have found me from reading my blog, on-line reviews and other various forms of social media. I have yet to have had to do “cold calls” or buy “leads” in my mortgage career which is going on 14 years…and I’m very thankful for that! I love working with people who I know, who have been referred to me, or who have researched or read my articles. 🙂
In 2013, I became an authorized instructor for home buyers classes sponsored through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. My goal is to offer at least one class each month this year. (I currently have classes scheduled for January and February). I have really enjoyed “teaching” which is one of the reasons I started this blog – to share information about mortgages to consumers.
Real Estate Agents are probably breathing a sigh of relief that the refi market is pretty much over. Don’t get me wrong, rates are still low and some home owners who have not yet refi’d are still doing so, however the *refi boom* that clogged many mortgage company pipelines is so last year.
I’m also still “adopting” mortgages. This is something that I started years ago. If your mortgage originator has left the industry (many have), if you have not heard from them in the last six months or you don’t want to return to your past loan originator for your mortgage needs, I’m happy to “adopt” your mortgage (no refi or new mortgage is required). If you would like me to review your mortgage on your Washington state home, please contact me.
I am really looking forward to 2014 and all it has to offer. I believe we will see more loan originators either leave the industry or opt to work for a bank (they don’t have to be licensed and will be “fed” business). By the way, my license has been officially renewed for 2014 – please be sure to confirm that your loan officer is licensed too by clicking the NMLS Consumer Access banner on the right bottom corner of this blog.
The mortgage process will not become any easier this year – however, it’s my goal with the help of Crystal and my team, that we continue to offer a higher level of communication and service to our home buyers and home owners who are refinancing. We will still have HUD’s awful Good Faith Estimate that was unleashed in 2010 (CFPB’s attempt, which appears to be improved, will not be released until 2015). I believe that QM will not impact a majority of my clients. Borrowers who are stretched (high debt to income ratios) may find they are not able to qualify. As always, I recommend meeting with a mortgage professional as soon as possible to start the preaproval process – if you find you don’t qualify now, a mortgage professional will be happy to work with you to develop a plan for qualifying for a mortgage.
On a personal note, we’re starting off the New Year with a new addition to our family. Please welcome, Hitch! 🙂
Many thanks for reading this blog and to my clients, friends and family for making 2013 a wonderful year. If you or someone you know are considering buying or refinancing a home located anywhere in Washington state in 2014, I am happy to help you!
I wish you and yours a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2014.
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