I had to share this email. This is why we have been around for so many years.

I wrote an article a few days ago about Money vs. Passion.  The email below answers the question.  I get these emails from time to time and they truly warm my heart not just for me but knowing the great team that makes SEM what it gets the recognition they so deserve.  In the market you hear a few names but reality is the 40+ operations people at SEM Club Drive and their support make SEM what it is and provides the fantastic dependable closings that drive our organic growth.

Below is an actual email from Kim Arrington to Jeff and JD.  Kim is well known in the Atlanta mortgage industry and has worked at Large Banks, Correspondents, and other variations of Lenders.  Kim's background is what makes her statements moving to me since she fully understands what most MLOs at other company's experience and can make an expert comparison.

Our operations team and MLOs work hard to earn client's and when our MLO team realizes how it comes together with all facets of the team harmonizing, I get a beaming sense of pride for the people I have worked with for so many years.  Better than a big check because the memory and relationships last longer.

From: Kim Arrington
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2014 12:25 PM
To: JD Crowe; Jeff Brown
Subject: Re: XXXXXXX  MTG LTR MF

Jeff and JD,

… I am not being corny or smoozy … though I can be!   Truth is, it does make me cry and smile at the same time, but I have not found this much favor with clients before ???

I am working from that same place of wanting to give excellence and here at Southeast I find many more “gratitude moments”.  People love us and I am so very thankful.

I know you invested from day 1 - you did not have to share Lynne with me, but you did and I could not have achieved what I have to date without her smarts and ambition. Thank you!

JD, we spent many calls on whether to come over or not and at the end of the day, people feel like home here!  I am not doing half the advertising I’ve done in the past and then look again, an agent lovin’ our process, lovin’ our email notifications that I forward… It gives such an authentic sense of status that they know it’s not fluff… it’s date stamped... it’s great!  And so with that, I got this agent emailing “I want to refer you“ … Thank you and Jeff, ya’ll did not give up.

So, even when I am in the Diva drama mode over that dern QC timing,  know my heart - I am really happy that you offered me an opportunity to join the team.

… love ya’ll

Kim

Sincerely,

 

Kim Arrington
Sales Manager, Executive MLO

#218594, GA MLO#25861
Office:      (770) 279-0222 ext. 717  
Toll Free: (800) 344-8788 ext. 717
Cell:          (678) 644-6945
Fax:          (678) 840-0063
Email:       Kim.Arrington@SoutheastMortgage.com
Website:   www.SoutheastMortgage.com 

Money vs. Passion by Cal Haupt

Historical observation of my commercial clients and consumer clients as a banker and mortgage provider helped me refine my perception of what matters between chasing the money or following a passion.  The consistency of outcome for my clients with respect to the two methodologies is compelling as to which one accomplishes their longer term monetary goal. 

When I hear “xyz company is paying more” my next question is tell me about the company and the people who make the company what it is.  The typical response is “it’s about the money; I did not research their longevity, financial strength or long term goals”.  For money chasers, this is consistent across all industries.

When you look at monetarily successful people, they all started with a passion and followed a path that met a need in the market.  Most believed in a better widget, better service, or a faster way to accomplish a process.  They did not chase higher pay without a passion for the company or strategy.  They were all passionate about what they were doing, the people, and philosophy.  This is the path the majority of wealthy people take.  The money always follows over time when passion is in the forefront.  "Slow and steady wins the race" 

Most that focus on the best deal at the time without regard to passion or the team tend to have inconsistent outcomes and move to the next best deal without regard to the stability of the underlying foundation.  They tend to cycle monetarily up and down as clients adjust to the change rather than making a smooth trend higher as their referral leverage increases. 

A few observations:

> People are social and need to feel responsible for others to stay engaged long term.  The same reason families have such strong bonds. 

> One person does not possess all the skills necessary to push through certain paradigms or maintain all critical functions of a business.

> People get tired and life does not always follow a predictable path.  Having a team step in to maintain your revenue stream when the unthinkable happens is priceless. 

Look at the people you view as monetarily successful.  I use the term monetarily successful because I think there is variations of success.  Monetarily Successful, Great Family Success, Great Friends Success, etc.  Everyone has their own view of success and I can only hope everyone enjoys all the facets of success and you are that fortunate in life.  Back to my discussion. 

The majority of monetarily successful people achieved that goal through a passion facilitated by a group of trusted people who share a similar belief with them.  Each person in the group generally has a unique set of skills and capabilities that together make them better than they are apart.  Together, they make each other better and thus leverage the skills of all into greater monetary success for all. 

IMO "Money Chasers" tend to get by and miss the joy and sense of accomplishment shared among a trusted group that shares a passion and a common belief.  My career has always been team based and I have foregone many higher paid consulting opportunities that required only my skill set.  I would not trade the relationships and friends I have made over the many years for any dollar amount.  Money will never talk to you, Money will not visit you when you are sick, Money will not give you a hug when you need it, and Money will never brain storm with you to engineer a challenge.  Money derived from a passion supported by a team of like minded people creates a fulfilling experience and security for all.

Follow your passion, enjoy your team, enjoy the ride, and the money will follow over time….  It always does.

 

Cal Haupt

Chairman and CEO

Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc.

770-279-0222

 

Tips for a smooth Loan Approval and Closing

TIPS for a smooth loan approval and Closing

Here is a list of helpful tips to ensure an effortless loan process and on-time closing.  These “DO & DON’T” tips will help avoid any delay with your loan approval and closing your loan on time.

DO call us if you have any questions.

DO continue living at your current residence.
DO continue making your mortgage/rent/credit payments on time
DO make copies of all non-payroll checks that are deposited to your account during the loan process.
DO plan to provide updated pay stubs, bank statements, and other items requested after loan prequalification right up until the close.
DO let us know right away if you plan to use a gift.

DON’T apply for new credit (even if you are told you are pre-approved.) The best way to avoid this is don’t give your social security number to anyone (especially on line) until your loan is completely done & you have moved into your new home.

DON’T open a new credit card, take out any new loans, finance anything new, or co-sign for anything

DON’T join a new fitness club (they will most likely run your credit.)
DON’T make a major purchase (car, boat, fur, jewelry, etc.)
DON’T open a new cellular phone account (they run credit.)
DON’T pay off any loans, credit cards, or consolidate debt without discussing it with us
DON’T pay charge offs or collections (negative reporting) on your credit report without a discussion with us

Employment / Income:

DON’T change jobs. A verbal verification of employment will be done the day we close.          

Bank Accounts and money:

DON’T make any purchases that will lower the balance in your bank account.

DON’T deposit any cash into your bank account
DON’T open any new bank accounts
DON’T move/transfer money back and forth from different bank accounts
DON’T allow your balance to drop below what it was when you got prequalified
DON’T allow your checking account to have non-sufficient funds.

Before making an offer on a home:

All money used for your home purchase needs to have a paper trail. Make sure the earnest money and money required at closing comes from your own account you listed on your loan application.

 

Please call Southeast Mortgage at 770-279-0222 if you have ANY questions about this form.  A Licensed Mortgage Originator will explain the reasons these “Do’s and Don’ts” are very important.  We appreciate your business and are here to help your loan process go as smooth as possible.

www.southeastmortgage.com
770-279-0222

My Mentor's Advice and The School of Hard Knocks by Cal Haupt

These are a few of the principles I live by.  They were acquired from the advice and guidance of my many wonderful Mentors through the years and some from the school of hard knocks.  Sharing my journey may help others as it has served me well.

How to avoid an Average Outcome:

Never drive in Traffic
 

Never get on a crowded elevator

Volunteer when others run for safety

Do a little extra than required to complete a task

Buy when others sell

Sell when others buy

Euphoria should make you nervous

Pessimism is opportunity

Never follow the crowd

Make your decisions based on your own criteria and objectives

Road less traveled is usually more productive

Draw your own opinion rather than borrow someone else’s

Cal Haupt
Chairman and CEO
Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc.
www.southeastmortgage.com
770-279-0222

Experience the 8-Day Ride

www.southeastmortgage.com

Behind the Mortgage Rate Curtain - by Cal Haupt

For the past twenty plus years I have stated Mortgage Rates are what they are and are set by the market.  There is only a market rate.  I.E. If you want to buy AT&T stock, there is one market for the public and the price is set by supply, demand, and valuation and sold by SEC licensed agents.  This holds true for Mortgage Rates except valuation is a little more complicated.  Focusing on client needs and matching the correct product to those needs is the path to organic revenue and a stability for Mortgage Loan Originators, MLOs, and Mortgage Companies.

Only Mortgage Lenders with access to secondary markets can provide true adjustments to market rates via dislocations in hedge activities.  This only lowers rates IF it is not reserved for the unfavorable consequence of the dislocation assuming the market moves to a less favorable level.

I constantly see rate focused MLOs moving from company to company.  The reason they cannot build a career is they are teased with lower unsustainable rates and then move when the company returns rates to sustainable levels.  Brokers and Correspondents cannot take advantage of secondary market dislocation so when they lower rates, the offsetting revenue has to come from somewhere or expenses must be lowered which can reduce MLO service needed for referrals.  In some cases, unsustainable rates are obtained from Wholesalers that sell servicing over and over and over which angers clients and potentially risks their credit rating if they cannot keep up with where their payment should go.

Mortgage Rates are set by the market and if a rate advertised is lower than market the company probably did not account properly and will not be able to balance the equation over time.  Time is not a friend to unsustainable low rate strategies.  Look at history and the names that used this strategy and are no longer in existence.  This is the primary reason companies fail over time or when the economy enters challenging periods.

My advice to MLOs and Clients is to work with the highest certified lender you can find.  The same logic applies to buying stock from an SEC licensed agent, choose a Licensed Mortgage Originator.  The higher the certification, the better access to efficient market rates due to the reduction of hands in the pot and benefits derived from hedging activities. 

This is the hierarchy of Mortgage Providers:

#1 Highest Certification - Direct Lender - Secondary Broker Dealer, Fannie & Freddie Seller Servicer (GSEs), with FHA
Direct Lender with full access to secondary markets and can trade between the GSEs- Can Service Production - Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc., operates in this category of certification

#2 Direct Lender - Fannie & Freddie Seller Servicer
Access to GSEs and considered a direct lender that can service production

#3 Fannie or Freddie Seller
Access to GSEs BUT not qualified or approved to service and will sell servicing rights
#4 Correspondent
Works on behalf of another Direct Lender.  Usually has small warehouse lines and servicing can be re-sold for higher yield by wholesalers 
#5 Broker (very few of these after 2009)
Middle person in the transaction - Works to put a consumer together with a Direct Lender.  Consumer pays the extra cost of the middle person even if the rate appears lower.  Servicing can be sold several times to account for the extra hand in the transaction.

Note: Banks (state-chartered, national banks, or federal thrift/savings banks) can operate in any of the categories above.  Most Georgia Community Banks engage as a correspondent or Fannie / Freddie variation.  Being an FDIC insured institution or Georgia State Bank only exempts their Loan Originators from Federal and State Licensing.  At Banks consumers work with Registered MLOs.  At Non-Bank Mortgage Companies consumers work with Licensed Mortgage Originators as set forth by the 2008 SAFE Act.  Click to learn more about the 2008 SAFE Act passed by our Government.

How can consumers or MLOs find the daily Mortgage Market Rate?  You have to average the daily par rate of Direct Lenders in your geographic area (50 mile circumference) with a sample size of at least 5.  Southeast Mortgage does this daily to keep our Referral partners and clients informed.

Cal Haupt
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc.
770-279-0222
www.southeastmortgage.com

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770-279-0222
www.southeastmortgage.com