WOW is the Reveal at Southeast Mortgage

After months of construction and design, the reveal exceeded expectations.  Our New Corporate, Operations, and Life Balance Center is now operational.  We transitioned all of operations mid month during our NEW Record Production Month without a hitch and without a missed milestone.
 
I have seen a lot of Offices and Corporate Centers in my life and I can tell you this one is incredibly Awesome.

The Reveal and Welcome



Video and Photo Studio

Closing

Underwriting - Operations

Elevator Entrance 4th Floor

Entry Waiting - Stairs to Third Floor (Fitness and Employee Social Area)



Small Club Drive Dedicated Conf Room



Northeast Exec Social Area



Our Team Welcome in the Exec Social Area

The Village book from our Christmas Video

JD Testing Segway, Yes, its that BIG

 

Try our NEW Awesome APP:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/southeast-mortgage/id1115070771?mt=8

Southeast Mortgage's NEW Headquarters / Operations / Life Balance Center (Updated Pictures)

3 months to go.  Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc. - New Operations / Headquarters that supports our 14  Offices is moving rapidly to completion.
This will be the coolest most employee health friendly work place in the southeast. 
A great healthy place to work that brings life balance into the work place.  Stay tuned for the amenities list!  Will be WOW like we WOW our partners and clients.....

Entrance 4th Floor

3rd Floor TEAM Social / Workout

Cross Road East and West Side 4th Floor

Stairs from 4th to 3rd Floor TEAM Social and Workout Floor

Operations

Operations

 

 

www.southeastmortgage.com
770-279-0222

Celebrating 20 years - Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc. - Looking forward to the Next 20 years...

Pictured: Cal Haupt, CEO; (right) Jan Shell, COO; (left) Beverly Straka Lazar, COO.  The three original Officers and Shareholders of Southeast Mortgage.

Pictured is the founding Officers and Shareholders of Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc.  Many pictured have worked together for more than 20 years and most more than 13 years.  Team, Loyalty, and a common goal to serve our clients ethically is the bond we share.  Together we lead the 120 plus teammates that keep the promise each day delivering the competent - fast service that has defined our company.

Southeast Mortgage Celebrating 20 years of Service

What Just Happened - July 2013 Shifts Mortgage Market and MLO Need

JD Crowe sent me this article yesterday.  I am of fan of Rick Roque with MenloCompanyGlobal.com and Rob Chrisman. They are always on point with their writings and this particular article is timely based on the capitulation in the refinance market in July 2013.

As mortgage companies review their July 2013 P&L, they will realize what just happened.  Mortgage Rates rose over an inflection point that severely reduced refinance demand.  Even at Southeast Mortgage, SEM, which is 90% retail "non-refinance" volume (Realtor, Builder, and Repeat Client) we experienced an unusual drop in refinance volume.  SEM is a Fully integrated, GSE Approved Mortgage Lender that has always focused on a Retail Strategy.  This has been SEM's niche since 1993 and has been perfected over the years with the addition of a full service Client Relationship Team for Realtors and Social Max Retail Centers across Metro Atlanta. 

What I find interesting about the excerpt below is the timeliness of the article and the message could not be more accurate in today's market.  Normally it takes the news a few months to realize significant changes in the market; however, Rick and Rob always seem to get it right.  Fully integrated Retail GSE Mortgage Lenders are in vogue for Mortgage Loan Originators looking to adapt to the recent changes in the Mortgage Market.

http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/channels/pipelinepress/08132013-number-of-los-in-nation.aspx

From: by Rob Chrisman                         

Fraud Stats Overstated; Mortgage Banker Margins; Fine-Tuning Nation's LO and Lender Numbers

Aug 13 2013, 5:34AM

 

Mortgage bankers who have been around for a while focus not on units or volume, but instead on net income and margin (wouldn't you rather than do one $400k loan versus four $100k loans? Wouldn't you rather make 3 points on $10 million a month versus 2 points on $13 million?).

Mr. Rick Roque with MenloCompanyGlobal.com wrote, "What do you think of the concept of non-depository, mortgage banking margin strategies?  I am getting a number of phone calls from, what were $100M+/month refi call center shops who are now at $25-$30M/month, and are looking at launching retail. Despite my discouragement and numerous conversations, the large margins of old, especially in self-generated call center, refi business models are probably never to be repeated; or perhaps not for another 20 years.  But many of them are insistent, I dare say in denial trying to make big margins in retail - 200bps+ net.  My rule of thumb is a healthy retail, non-Ginnie-Mae servicer, should make 70-100bps net (after all expenses paid out, both corporate and retail) and I think this is even possibly stretching it.  Perhaps with agency approvals this could add another 50-70bps, but then you are talking about a range between 130-170bps net after all expenses both corporate and retail."
Rick goes on. "Naturally, these firms haven't touched a purchase loan and aren't staffed to underwrite FHA competently in various markets, and would need to staff up ($$) to accommodate this; they haven't developed a retail strategy ($$), so this would have to be done; and there would need to be the HR ($), Accounting ($), technology ($) and branch support structure ($$$) and recruiting structure ($) to grow and support retail. So, my advice has been:  don't do it unless you simply have 8-10 months to burn money before you even break even, and then probably another 6+ months to recoup your original investment.  And, to do this in a rising rate, margin sensitive environment, is again, almost ridiculous."

www.southeastmortgage.com
770-279-0222

Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc. announces a Mortgage Loan Originator Associate class for US Military Veterans

Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc. announces a Mortgage Loan Originator Associate class for US Military Veterans, MLOA. 

Southeast Mortgage is taking applications from Veterans for our August 2013 MLOA class.  The class is the same one currently training talented sales professionals on best practices in the Retail Mortgage Industry and licensing them for a career in Retail Mortgage Banking. 

Veterans are encouraged to apply at: http://www.southeastmortgage.com/originator-opportunities-2/   click employment application at the bottom and then email to: hr@southeastmortgage.com . 

 

“Veterans possess the internal fortitude to serve and protected the freedom we enjoy as US citizens.  The blanket of security they provided allowed us to pursue the interests that support our families.  The traits that make these Americans our heroes are the exact traits that can help them create a stable profitable career with Southeast Mortgage.  They helped us take care of our families, now its our turn to help them take care of theirs.”  Cal Haupt - CEO

Cal Haupt

Chief Executive Officer
Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc.
www.southeastmortgage.com

770-279-0222

Update 2013 - Southeast Mortgage Team

2012 has been a year for the record books with respect to volume and process evolution.  In reflection, huge growth rates are impressive; however, the teams ability to maintain our service standards and the 8-day close during triple digit growth is simply spectacular and a reflection of our FANTASTIC team at Southeast Mortgage.

We have completed the 2013 strategy and initiatives are online for a January 2, 2013 start.  I will provide more detail at our Strategy Kick off Meeting next month.  A few highlights but the cool stuff will be unveiled in person.

üThe 2013 Plan puts SEM on rails with no-uncertainty and new capability on Conventional and Jumbo …..

üStrong Capitalization with Experienced Leadership depth

üOne of the longest standing Georgia DBF Lenders – Largest Non-bank Mortgage Lender in Georgia

üBest Platform for MLO careers in Georgia

üBest Service with 8-day close

üOperations team that adapts to volume with great Service

üBringing support and communication closer to our Referral Partners with new SEM Max Offices

üSocial CRM Team keeping us in front of Referral Sources and Clients

üThe only Non-Bank Mortgage Lender in Georgia with our 2013 capability

After 20 years in this business, the 2013 Southeast Mortgage will be the strongest most capable I have ever seen.

 

The CRM tells me we have huge participation in the "SEM's got talent" contest, so gargle to loosen up those vocal chords, tighten your guitar strings, and polish those jokes.  Cannot wait to see who wins....

Cal Haupt

President and Chief Executive Officer

Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc.

www.southeastmortgage.com

770-279-0222 

SEM the Cat has passed away ....

We are all saddened by the passing of our processing mascot, little buddy, master of pest control, and his last responsibility as Morale Director in Operations.  SEM was also our Twitter spokes CAT on @semkitty www.southeastmortgage.com/twitter .

SEM was a stray full grown cat that hung around our Club Drive Facility in 1998.  He was neutered so he had been with a family prior to becoming a stray.  Over the years, he became more familiar with the people at Club and allowed us to approach and feed him.  SEM was a very good hunter who liked to bring his day's bounty to the door so we could see his skill.

SEM lived in the roof vent on top of Club Drive building A for many years.  A family of raccoons decided they would be better suited to his home and ganged up on SEM causing a serious head wound.  Becky, SEM's keeper and health advisor, always took good care of him.  She rushed SEM to the doctor who advised that he needed to stay inside due to his brain injury.

We converted the 2nd floor of Building A to become his new home where he resided for many years until his death.  Becky would bring him to processing in the morning and take him to his room at night.  In processing he maintained a routine of visiting everyone during the day.  At least twice a day he enjoyed his long walks around our two acre complex remembering his more youthful adventures.  When finished with his walks he would sit on the window sill to be let back in.

SEM will be missed and was a special member of the Southeast Mortgage family.

SEM will be buried this week at Club Drive.

In lieu of flowers, please support The Human Society http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/ .

JD Crowe - Installed as Secretary / Treasurer - MBAG 2012 / 2013

John David "JD" Crowe, Senior Vice President, Southeast Mortgage

Installed as 2012/2013 Secretary/Treasurer - Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia in Destin, Florida. JD is also a Member of the Executive Committee for MBAG. His responsibilities will be the budget of the association and for the minutes of the board meetings.

Congratulations JD.