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Posts Tagged ‘reverse mortgage’

What’s in a list & Why reverse mortgage pros struggle?

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

What’s in a list & Why reverse mortgage pros struggle?
post by Sam Collins
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Here’s the bottom line; No one will do a reverse mortgage with you unless they have an interest in it!   Or you are lucky enough to check in when they are having a life changing event. 

When considering a direct mail, telephone, seminar campaign, or other marketing effort, we often get side tracked and attention is deflected away from the list.  Why?  Most notably we get hung up on the aesthetics of the marketing material.  When in reality, if we focus on the wrong list, it really doesn’t matter what the marketing material looks like.  The most important part is the list.

My experience is most response related marketing services don’t truly understand the reverse mortgage business.  They get confused when you ask for equity versus LTV, they think in terms of anyone 62 or older will work, they don’t consider length of residence, or total revolving debt, and most notably can’t fully zero in on values.    Understandably,  these variables in our marketplace can be difficult, but not impossible when you go outside and actually deal directly with list and data vendors, whose specialty is exactly that, DATA.

Why deal direct with list and data providers?  Foremost, providing lists and data bases are what they do.  Secondly, once you purchase the data, always ask for the download copy of the data.  Thirdly, since marketing to the same data base over and over again, you are now in control and your cost for the really good data actually gets better the more often it is used.  For example, if you paid .25 cents for your data, mailed 10, 000 pieces as many as 4 times, then your actual cost for the really good data is not .25 cents per name, but .0625 cents, about the same you would have paid for if you purchased lousy data or got what you thought was free.

Remember, keep moving forward to stay ahead in reverse.
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March Free Training Webinar Event

Mar 10, 2010 Our guest this month is: Daniel Rud CMO, Domestic and International PIONEER INFORMATION, INCDan is going to discuss the following:- Compliance- Best Practices

- Script Development

- Resources available

In light of all industry and governmemental changes, this is webinar you will want to attend. Topics will be discussed relative to telemarketing and getting approval of your direct mail piece and scripts.

Check your local time zone below:

2:00 pm EDT 1:00 pm CDT 12:00 pm MDT 11:00 am PDT

Selling a reverse mortgage is a calling!

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

ALL MONEY IS MADE BY SOMEBODY SELLING SOMETHING TO SOMEBODY ELSE!

 

            A model sells her beauty. A factory worker sells his time and his skills. A test pilot sells his courage and expertise. Even a ditch digger is selling something: His labor. The point is… you don’t have a choice about whether or not you want to be a reverse loan advisor , you already are one. Maybe, you’re not what is generally regarded as a pure salesman,  but, you absolutely do make your living by selling something. Again… all money is made by somebody selling something to somebody else.

            And… since this is true…

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE AS FAR AS YOUR CAREER IS CONCERNED IS… WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SELL!

 

            Nearly everybody gets this part wrong. People go into real estate because they hear that’s where the money is. Or they go into computers for the same reason. In the movie “The Graduate,” someone whispered the word “plastics” in Dustin Hoffman’s ear because, they believed “that’s where the money is.” This kind of thinking is dangerous. You should never go into something merely because you heard “that’s where the money is.” No… the only correct way to deal with this decision is…

SELL SOMETHING YOU LOVE!

 

            Money should be a “by-product” of enthusiasm. If you get into something just for money, there’s a good chance you won’t make any. And  even if you do, so what? So, what if you make a million bucks a week if you hate getting out of bed, hate your work, feel indifferent to your product or service and, in general, you are unmotivated, and… bored?

 

            Look, life is difficult. And business life is doubly difficult. On your road to success, you’re going to be dogged by envy, scoffed at for daring to be a dreamer, trivialized by those with less courage, pestered by bureaucrats, etc. In fact, in today’s America, I defy you to get out of bed, use the bathroom, get dressed, eat breakfast and go start your car without running afoul of at least a half dozen laws and regulations.

           

            The point I’m trying to make is, the business of doing reverse mortgages is incredibly difficult even under the best of circumstances and when you add this to toiling at something you find boring… you’ve got a combination that almost guarantees burn out.  Selling reverse mortgages is akin to a calling, “have fun.”

 

Rememeber, keep moving forward to stay ahead in reverse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reverse mortgage originators bare a huge burden!

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Reverse mortgage originators bare a huge burden!

by Sam Collins3-coahing

Have you ever considered the enormous burden you have as a reverse mortgage originator?   Because of the huge financial burdens being exercised on our senior homeowners today, there is an  equal amount of burden  being placed on reverse mortgage originators.

The reasons for burden are many.  The ones that come to mind  are the recent reductions in principal loan limits, then couple that with  reductions in home prices, you have a recipe for burden.    These facts are proven in the recent major reduction in reverse mortgage originations.  The burden for reverse mortgage originators is twofold:


First,  we are seeing more and more senior  homeowners not qualifying.  In fact, some are faced with losing their homes and  being left homeless, having to move in with the kids, or becoming a ward of the state (goverrment).   This  is changing the burdens on us and our clients.   This leads us trying to find more solutions for our clients.   Yes, you could just walk away when someone doesn’t qualify or you can take another step, such as trying to negotiate a short refinance.  But, this too adds a burden.  Time!  How do you find the time and if it doesn’t work, who will compensate you?    So the burdens are many, including financial and moral in nature.

  
Second,  because of reductions in the principal loan limits and deteriorating home prices, we are finding that less and less people are qualifying for adjustable rate reverse mortgages and the percentage of fixed rate reverses are the only alternative.  Burden vs solution.  If not for the fixed rate product many clients today would be losing their homes.   However, we are faced with a heavy burden, trying to keep objective with our product offerings.   It is a  dilemma we are faced with daily in our world as reverse mortgage originators. The burdens of our financial world today seem almost incomprehensible, with insurmountable financial pressures being applied to all walks of life.   However, less not we forget those who gave us the qualify of life we enjoy today!  Cannot there be  found the resources to assist our aging homeowners?    Where is the burden?

 

Remember, keep moving forward to stay ahead in reverse.

How do you know?

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

How do you know if the company you are buying leads from is any good?

post by Sam Collins
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Without leads we are out of business.  Plus we all know in our business we need more leads than the normal business, because our sales cycle is long.  For example, I was able to get  a deal last week which happened after 3 years since my first contact.

This Wednesday we are having  a special two hour Lead Extravanza !   The idea of hiring a lead provider prompted me to think what you should consider when you decide to hire a lead provider!  Yes,  don’t forget your lead provider works for you.  Unless you get the results you want, then you must fire them and fine someone else.

Here are a list of things I think you should consider when hiring a lead provider:

1.  Cost; can they tell you what a lead is really costing?

2.  What is their track record? 

3.  Do they understand the reverse mortgage industry?

4.  Are they compliant?  In other words, do they use best marketing practices as suggested by the  FTC?

5.  Do they have a guarantee?

6.  What are the billing terms?

7.  Do they have testimonials or references?

8.  What is the turnaround time?

9.  Do they have an graphics department?  Is creative included in the price?

10.Do they have more than one program?

11. Do they help you purchase a good database?

If you want to get everything you want out of everything you got, then you will want to be here  this Wednesday for our two (2) hour Lead Extravaganza.

Remember, keep moving forward to stay ahead in reverse.

***Go here to see the terms suggested by the GAO not to use in your advertorials:
       http://www.remalo.org/members/685.cfm

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