Retirements

As 2017 coming to an end, I generally reflect on what Southeast Mortgage can do better to meet the needs of our Clients, Partners, and Employees.  Every year we take a step closer to better meeting those needs.  I am very proud and grateful for the long relationships and trust.

Like most of you, I scan LinkedIn to stay informed about those I accepted invites from.  Every year I look for someone announcing their retirement after a fabulous and rewarding career in Mortgage Banking.  Have you ever seen somebody announce their retirement?  I also scratch my head sometimes wondering why certain talented MLOs make the career changes they do?  In my career, I never changed companies unless my sponsor left or I wanted to learn a new skill to leverage my career.  Changing companies never helped me the trusted person I worked for did!

Southeast Mortgage Paid Retirements with full Medical Benefits:

Jan Shell, Shareholder

Admin Asst, Banker, MLO, Branch Manager, EVP, COO                  

Tenure at Southeast Mortgage 19 years with CEO 24 years

Beverly Straka, Shareholder

Banker, MLO, Branch Manager, EVP, Secondary    

Tenure at Southeast Mortgage 19 years with CEO 23 years

Debra Harding, Shareholder

Teller, CRM, Financial Consultant, MLO, SVP       

Tenure at Southeast Mortgage 18 years with CEO 26 years

What I have learned in my 30 years:

Never work for someone who only cares about themselves

Work for someone who has already achieved the success you want and has made others successful by sharing new skills

Has anyone at your company retired?  Average age of an MLO is 50 ish?  Find one who does…

Learning Skills that grow your business is the only sustainable path to success

Be Relevant!  Work directly for the company that provides your product.  Net Branches, LLC Agreements, etc. are expendable and do not grow value for the TEAM they employ.  When your TEAM moved to a new company, did the TEAM Leader share the signing bonus with the team?

Work for a company that only derives revenue from what you do.  If a company has various segments of products and you happen to get a new CEO or President that does not believe in what you sell, they can pull the rug out.  How many of you have had your company sold and you had to look for a new Employer?  Did your leadership write you a check?  I bet they asked you to move to the next company.  Hello, it’s a pattern that will not change or get you paid.

Look at longevity, look at who is evolving as the leader in your market, look at who takes care of their employees, shares ownership, and provides a path to a comfortable retirement.  Nobody is getting younger and this economic recovery is nine years old (the average recovery is 7 years).

www.southeastmortgage.com 

Phone 770-279-0222

2018 Welcomes a new Era of Mortgage Origination and Partner Visibility (MLOs will Celebrate...)

Mortgage Originators best friend / Assistant. 

We expect our Team to increase applications by 50% with the same time commitment via SEM harnessing the best technology in the industry.  No time to market yourself?  No worries, GooRu will do it for you 24/7.

"We have been working on this concept and functionality for years.  Our mission was to automate the tasks MLOs did not like or did not have time to do while providing them self directed or corporate support to market via social portals developing new clients or to stay in touch with their past clients.  The result was better than we expected.  We found a way to accomplish our initiative to help MLOs accomplish more without more time and provide our clients and Partners the visibility and control they want.  This is a new unit at SEM separate from our historically effective Client Relationship Team but will work together to leverage our unique capabilities.  We will be launching GooRu at our Holiday Gala at the Ritz Carlton in December."  Cal Haupt, Chairman, Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc.

Our Partners will enjoy the ease of staying informed and capturing more sales with higher confidence at their projects.

Here Comes GooRu....

Southeast Mortgage Men In Black

Thank you! Contact the CEO of our company directly at Cal@SoutheastMortgage.com

Chase the Horizon Beyond your Goals

Chase the Horizon Beyond your Goals
> Accomplish what has been un-accomplished
> Go beyond your safety zone
> Get uncomfortable with new experiences
> Be bold before you are too old
> The journey is the reward

Certified and tested by Cal Haupt.

Headline: Realtors Can Be Registered & Not Licensed

The headline is shocking and luckily fiction today; however,  it is a Hidden Reality in the Mortgage Industry today and most Realtors and Clients do not know.

What if a large Hedge Fund decided to enter the Real Estate Business and found a loophole to only Register Realtors exempt from State licensing.  Imagine they only have to pay Registered Realtors 1/3 what a Licensed Realtors make pocketing the difference.  Registered Realtors are not required to comply with Continuing Education, or State Regulation?

Trades (Realtors, Mortgage Lenders, Attorneys, Appraisers, Etc.) should support and insist on working with State Licensed Professionals who have met State Standards of Education, Credit, and Ethics.  Would you use an unlicensed Architect, Attorney, Doctor, Electrician, Plumber, Teacher, Appraiser, etc.  I certainly would not!

Does anyone ask if their Mortgage Originator is State Licensed?  That should be one of the first questions for a Realtor before referring a client and a client before applying with a Mortgage Originator. Just check if they are licensed at http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/ .  Registered Mortgage Originators do not have a GAR or DBF for client complaint resolution.  Clients and Realtors can only file a complaint with their employer which is a Bank.

Southeast Mortgage works with Licensed Attorneys, Appraisers, and Realtors.  Support the integrity of State Licensing and only work with Licensed Mortgage Originators.  Protect the integrity of the Real Estate Industry and ensure we do not see another 2008-2009.  Everyone knows what and who caused it.

770-279-0222
www.southeastmortgage.com 

I am Still in Shock? Licenses Matter!

After the 2009 financial Crisis, I assumed everyone understood risky and unsustainable Mortgage Loans were created by Non-Licensed Mortgage Originators which caused the financial disaster that hurt so many families?  There was a reason Congress passed a law requiring Mortgage Originators to be Licensed.  8 years later, the lesson was missed.

Over the weekend, I was working with a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Realtor, to sell a house.  The Realtor I chose knew the market very well and has a proven track record.  I only work with Licensed Real Estate Agents and I always check their license at http://www.grec.state.ga.us/ .  The Realtors I know appreciate people who choose Licensed Real Estate Agents and many have the same view with respect to Mortgage Lending.

Over the weekend, I got an offer on the house with a Bank Originator written into the contract.  I happen to know the Bank Originator given I hired the person into the Banking Industry from the waste disposal industry a long time ago.  The person has a super personality and is likable.  I explained to the Realtor that I did not have confidence in an agreement that was contingent on a Non-Licensed Mortgage Originator handling the buyers loan.  You can find out if a Loan Officer is Licensed by clicking here http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/ .  See picture below.  Look for there State license below that will also have a consumer complaint link.  If the are just registered "Not Licensed" there is no State License information nor Consumer Complaint Link.

The Realtor had no idea that there are Non-Licensed Mortgage Originators engaged in the Georgia Mortgage Industry.  I explained it to her this way.  Would you buy your home from a Non-Licensed Real Estate Agent?  She said NO.  My POINT.  Just because someone is likable is not a basis to put a client's home purchase or sale in the hands of someone NOT State Licensed to do it.  They deserve a Mortgage Originator that has passed a competency test and is regulated by the State they are taking mortgage applications.

• Would you hire a Plumber who is registered with his supplier and not licensed?
• Would you hire an Electrician who is registered with his supplier and not licensed?
• Would you trust your health to a Doctor who is registered with a drug supplier rather than licensed?  Should your Doctor be required to pass competency exams?
• Would you hire a Realtor who is registered with their employer and not licensed?

Bank Mortgage Originators are Registered and do not have State Licenses, they have not passed a standardized competency test, and there is no State Regulatory Complaint Recourse for Consumers.  If a Licensed Real Estate Agent creates an issue for you, you can complain  to http://www.grec.state.ga.us/ (Real Estate Agents State Regulator).  Attorneys have the State BAR.   If you have an issue with a Federally Registered Non-Licensed Bank Mortgage Originator, who do you complain to?  Who regulates them?  Their Employer?  Remember 2009.  

Putting Builder and Realtor Value First

Although 85% of Southeast Mortgage's volume is derived from retail clients, we are very proud of our accomplishment in the New Homes Sales Channel.

"Builders want to work with Southeast Mortgage due to our value added proposition.  We are the best at delivering great predictable service; however, the videos and other media we co-market with our Builders and Realtors simply drives more potential clients to their open houses and subdivisions.  More traffic = more sales.  We believe in adding value to our partner's franchises rather than just taking applications."  Cal Haupt, Chairman and CEO of Southeast Mortgage of Georgia, Inc.

With our extremely high pull through from application to close and accurate reporting to partners, Southeast Mortgage delivers the best overall solution to its partners and is why we are growing rapidly and earning more Builder and Realtor requests to partner.

www.southeastmortgage.com
770-279-0222