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NAMB Committee Update
NAMB offers several different committees that are established for the efficient operation of the association’s business. The Committee Chair and members of these committees are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Board before serving one-year terms. NAMB is always looking for Members to participate. Here is an update from some of the Committee Chairs on what they are working on so far this year.
The Education Committee
The Education Committee is breaking out of the Zoom calls and having live classes again. Its first live CVLS (Certified Veteran Lending Specialist) class is on March 19th at The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa in beautiful downtown Mobile, Alabama. The hotel has rich history opening first in 1852 on the site of a former military headquarters set up by Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. It burned in 1905 and was rebuilt in 1908. You will love the Southern Hospitality that Mobile has to offer along with a few Ghost Stories to peak your interests. This all day CVLS Certification class is for anyone that has some experience in VA Originating. The 8-hour class will go into great detail about helping the veteran make the right choices and how to originate a VA loan with many things that the average originator would not know about VA. This class is our most popular class right now, but it is not just a participation class. You really need to absorb the knowledge that day to pass a test at the end of the class. You will then receive your CVLS Certification Certificate and become our newest Certified Veteran Lending Specialist. We welcome new originators but want you to know that this is not just a participation class.
The next CVLS class is in Birmingham, Alabama at the Hoover Country Club on April 14th. This all-day class will be on the same day as the AMPA (Alabama Mortgage Professional Association) Awards Luncheon which is always a well-attended event and you will also be able to attend the luncheon. We are planning the CVLS dates for the near future in Florida and Georgia. You need to call to see if we can put your state on the calendar this year.
NAMB has completed a 16-hour Originator class which is great for new originators, or someone who is in the business and just wants to brush up on all the changes that have occurred in originating. We will be offering it in the next few months online and hopefully live classes as soon as possible. This class gives you a complete overview of what an originator needs to know along with master classes that you can take on specific topics like Self Employed Borrowers, Reverse Mortgages, Social Media, Marketing, the new 1003, Credit and many more. NAMB is trying to carry its Education to a new level exceeding anything we have ever done before. We feel like you as members deserve the best and NAMB is working hard for you!
The Technology Committee
The Veterans Committee
Click here to play the video.
The Veterans Committee has been following the progress from VA on the new law passed on January 5 regarding National Guard Veterans and activation for VA loan Eligibility. According to VA, they are still considering the full ramifications of this new law and have been processing cases as they come up manually to determine if the Veteran meets the requirements of the new law. They have considered over 100 questions since the new law came into effect. The team is also working to set up classes across the country for the Certified Veterans Lending Specialist (CVLS) training and are standing by with both live and virtual classes. We now have four trainers available to teach the class and look forward to training our broker partners in the industry.
The FHA Committee
The NAMB FHA Committee has been meeting monthly discussing the most recent changes and updates from HUD. At our most recent committee meeting, committe members discussed assembling a “NAMB wish list” to present to HUD for 2021, as suggested from our Committee. One item on the list – reducing the upfront and/or the monthly Mortgage Insurance charged by FHA. The committe is also discussing how recent HUD announcements regarding the Coronavirus will impact NAMB Members. Specifically it is discussing the extension of re-verification of Employment and the Exterior-Only Appraisal Scope of Work (SOW) Option for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Single-Family programs. Also on the committee’s radar: the extension of the End Date for COVID-19 Multisubject: Updated Temporary Guidance for Verification of SelfEmployment, Rental Income, and the 203(k) Rehabilitation Escrow Account.
The Diversity and Inclusion Committee
NAMB is happy to be able to bring back the Diversity and Inclusion Committee this year with a focus on Fair Lending. The purpose of the committee is to provide knowledge, resources, and understanding to diverse communities to increase empowered homeownership. We have two areas of focus this year. The first is to provide education to our communities and also for our members. The second is to identify and develop resources to partner with other organizations to increase empowered homeownership.
We encourage you to look to the NAMB website as a resource to access information for First Time Home Buyers, Down Payment Assistance programs, and training for you to provide education to your borrowers. This will assist you in being an expert in this field.
The NAMB Board includes a team of professionals with collective years of experience over many decades. Simply put, we know the industry inside and out and want to help you succeed.
In this NAMB Board Spotlight, we introduce you to our President, Kimber White. Kimber has more than 27 years of experience in the mortgage industry. He has won several awards, including Mortgage Broker of the Year, and the President’s Award for his service as President of the Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers from 2017-2019.
NAMB’s Communications Director, Kelly Coggins, interviewed Kimber recently to find out more about him.
Tell me about your history with NAMB and how you moved up through the ranks to President?
I was Government Affairs Chair for my chapter in Florida and was asked to go to a meeting in 2012 for lobby days in Washington, DC. Linda McCoy, the current President-Elect of NAMB, asked me to be on the Membership Committee. From there, she asked me to chair membership. I did that, went on to chair the Conference Committee, and when a position on the board became available, I was asked to fill that position too. From there, I moved to the Executive Committee and then became President-Elect.
What do you love about what you do?
giving back to an industry that gave so much to me. I love it. It is an attitude of giving.
Did you always aspire to be in the mortgage industry?
No, my CPA said you should get into the mortgage business. I told him I hate math. I took the interview and started in West Virginia. I started with mobile homes.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of being able to help clients and getting people into their dream homes. Helping people get out of debt and refinance and survive. Nothing excites me more though as someone buying their first home. There is nothing like it.
Tell me about a challenge you were able to overcome.
My challenge is my sexual identity. In the industry, I was told I would never survive. There were a lot of challenges in my life. I was told by one of my mentors that you are a great loan officer but you will never be a great leader because of your lifestyle.
What bit of advice do you have for those who read this?
What others think of you doesn’t matter. You can be what you want to be- don’t let people control you. You can
overcome your events from the past. Take those and turn them into a positive.
Who are some of your mentors or do you have a favorite former NAMB President?
There is a president who mentored me. I met Joe Falk for the first time in DC. Joe said one day you will be the President of Florida. He has helped me move through the ranks. Also, Valerie Saunders trusted me before I was a part of NAMB. She also really put me on the map. I had been shy without much confidence in myself, and they all helped me change that. Carl Noriega, former President of Florida, also invited me to volunteer and helped shape my future.
What is the main thing you hope to accomplish during your year as President?
I hope to bring education to NAMB. We have NAMB University now to educate and grow membership. There are a variety of tools to help mortgage professionals fund their business.
I also hope to mentor new leaders and leave NAMB better than I found it. I plan to leave a legacy of NAMB being the go-to place for education, awareness of equality in housing, and the leader in all things housing-related.
Anything you would like to add?
I would like to encourage other mortgage professionals to become involved. That can be done by volunteering your time, or if you are not able to do that you can join NAMB and a state association. Getting involved has been incredibly rewarding and has helped me grow personally, professionally, mentally, and has made me an overall better person.
NAMB is incredibly lucky to have Kimber’s leadership. We truly appreciate his dedication and service to the industry. You may contact Kimber at kimber.white@ namb.org.
Upcoming Webinars & Events
3/17/21 Freddie Mac Webinar: CHOICERenovation® and Home Possible® Refinances 3/19/21 Live Certified Veterans Lending Specialist Class in Mobile, AL 4/6/21 & A Two-Part Webinar: Analyzing Income for the Self-Employed 4/8/21 Borrower - Personal & Business 4/12/21 NAMB Now
6/14/21 NAMB Now
Register Today: namb.org/events
Please note: Editorial and contents of this magazine reflect the records of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB). NAMB has done its best to provide useful and accurate information, but please take into account that some information does change. NAMB takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information printed, inadvertent omissions, printing errors, nor do they endorse products or services. The reader is advised to independently check all information before basing decisions on such information.
