Last week, the MBA reported that 2020 has been the best year in the industry since 2003 and that the volume generated to date is already $1 trillion more than in 2019. One of the few positive spots in the economy has been the housing market where there are not enough real estate sellers and […]
$3 Trillion in Mortgage Volume and its Unintended Consequences Read More »
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the normal way of doing things is being redefined on a daily basis. Many financial experts consider this global pandemic to be a “black swan” event. From Nassim Taleb’s \”black swan” theory, the term refers to rare, unexpected events of large magnitude with potentially severe consequences. While predicting the future
Does Your Sales Strategy Align with How Consumers Want to Buy? Read More »
Last week, I discussed highlights from Quicken’s IPO and how the company has achieved record growth by having a defined sales process; and training and developing employees. While these are certainly not new concepts, they are rarely practiced at mortgage banking firms. While a number of lenders claim to provide employees with a structured
How to Conduct Training According to Quicken Read More »
Last Tuesday, the Quicken IPO was finally filed after countless rumors that it would happen. Based on my recent conversations with sales leaders, there is no question that Quicken’s S-1 was read closely by mortgage executives across the board. Much of the material from ISMs was well known in the industry, but some statements were
Two Essential Keys to Quicken’s Success Read More »
There is never a perfect time to make changes to your sales process. In the current marketplace, where volume is overwhelming and many lenders are turning away business, it may seem counterintuitive to discuss what it will take to succeed in a 2021 purchase money environment. Nothing could be further from the truth. According to
It is Never the Right Time . . . Read More »
During my recent MBA webinar, “Owning the Customer: Keys to Originator Success,” I asked attendees whether their originators were reaching out to former customers. The overwhelming majority said producers were only using the lender’s CRM system to maintain contact. When asked to rate originators on customer engagement, the same attendees gave their producers a solid
Owning the Customer is an Originator’s Chief Responsibility Read More »
While lenders are super busy now, many in our industry are wondering what mortgage lending will look like after the pandemic is over. Will we return to “business as usual” or will the environment be completely different? I believe it will be the latter. For managers with 20 years or more left to work
Winning in a Period of “Optimum Warning” Read More »
This week as a new decade begins, it makes sense to forecast what the next ten years will look like for originators and lenders. Many predictions have common themes such as interest rate fluctuations; the rollout of industry regulations; and the emergence of new technologies in mortgage banking. While these are important concerns, today I
A New Decade is Here: Change will be Fast and Furious Read More »
In today’s ultra-competitive marketplace, being a good salesperson isn’t enough to generate new business. These originators meet expectations but don’t go above and beyond to deliver an exceptional customer experience. They tend to perform well during refinance markets but lose momentum in purchase money markets because they don’t stand out amid their competitors. Good
Why Being a Good Originator Isn’t Enough Anymore Read More »
There is no other topic in financial circles more sizzling than digital transformation. The buzz is everywhere: conferences, trade papers and webinars. It is like Y2k on steroids. But are we looking at digital transformation the wrong way? I think so. Here’s why we need to change our mindset. A recent Financial Brand article noted that
The Nuttiness of Today’s Digital Transformation Focus Read More »
