July 2011 Volume 3 • Number 7
Mortgage PROFESSIONAL N A T I O N A L
MAGAZINE
Your source for the latest on originations, settlement, and servicing
1220 Wantagh Avenue • Wantagh, NY 11793-2202 Phone: (516) 409-5555 / (888) 409-9770 Fax: (516) 409-4600 Web site: NationalMortgageProfessional.com STAFF Eric C. Peck Editor-in-Chief (516) 409-5555, ext. 312 ericp@nmpmediacorp.com Andrew T. Berman Executive Vice President (516) 409-5555, ext. 333 andrew@nmpmediacorp.com Joey Arendt Art Director joeya@nmpmediacorp.com Jon Blake Advertising Coordinator (516) 409-5555, ext. 301 jonb@nmpmediacorp.com
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Tara Cook Billing Coordinator (516) 409-5555, ext. 324 tarac@nmpmediacorp.com ADVERTISING To receive any information regarding advertising rates, deadlines and requirements, please contact Senior National Account Executive Karen Krizman at (516) 409-5555, ext. 326 or e-mail karenk@nmpmediacorp.com.
Statements, articles and opinions in National Mortgage Professional Magazine are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply the opinion or endorsement of NMP Media Corp., or the officers or members of National Association of Mortgage Brokers and its State Affiliates (NAMB), National Association of Professional Mortgage Women (NAPMW), National Credit Reporting Association (NCRA) and/or other state mortgage trade associations. Participation in NAMB, NAPMW, NCRA, and/or other state mortgage trade associations events, activities and/or publications is available on a non-discriminatory basis and does not reflect the endorsement of the product and/or services by NMP Media Corp., NAMB, NAPMW, NCRA, and other state mortgage trade associations. National Mortgage Professional Magazine, NAMB, NAPMW, NCRA, and/or other state mortgage trade associations do not make any misrepresentations or warranties concerning the regulatory and/or compliance aspects of advertisers, products or services and/or the editorial content contained in NMP Media Corp. publications. National Mortgage Professional Magazine and NMP Media Corp. reserve the right to edit, reject and/or postpone the publication of any articles, information or data. MO
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There … I did it. I have taken it upon myself to make this July, and every July hereafter, “Social Media Month.” The topic of social media has become inescapable in today’s society. You have some who use it to catch up with their fifth grade classmates, while others are using it to generate business and close loans. And then, there are some who get in touch with their fifth grade classmates, who now know you are in the business of originating loans, and are then setting that very same person from your past onto the road of homeownership by playing a role in the sale or financing of a home. The power of social media has impacted most everything and has brought instant information right to our desktops and to the glass screens of what was once known as our cell phones. In the palm of your hand, you hold the power of access to thousands of new leads, or to something as basic as a dinner recipe or movie listings. No matter your reasons, we have become a nation that is just a few thumb taps on their screens or finger swipes away from instant gratification. You have the power and tools, but how will you utilize it? This month, we’ve assembled a slate of articles that will help you unlock the power of social media to turn those Followers, Connections, Fans and Friends into prospects and sales. Sue Woodard of Mortgage Success Source gets things started on page 30 by describing a new business landscape when social media exists as an avenue of referrals to loan originators. On page 31, Ashley Duvernell and Ericka Smith from Inlanta Mortgage present a primer on getting your feet wet in the worlds of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Our FHA expert, Jeff Mifsud of Mortgage Seminars LLC, profiles three mortgage professionals beginning on page 32 who have been using social media to develop their FHA business. B.J. Bounds of Calyx Software, in her article on page 34, discusses integrating social media into your day-to-day operations and how to properly manage the time spent toward your social media and networking efforts. Wrapping up the section on page 35 is Corrine Jordan of Brain Gravy Enterprises who unravels the mystery behind closing deals via social media … is it intentional or accidental? Beginning on page 38, we take a look at the top “25 Most Connected Mortgage Professionals” as voted upon by their peers via a … you guessed it … poll that we took using our own various social media outlets here at National Mortgage Professional Magazine. If you have the chance, I would turn to page 38 and Follow, Friend Request, Connect and become Fans of these mortgage professionals who have embraced social media and are helping others in their community become profitable.
An exclusive interview with CFPB architect Elizabeth Warren This month, we are please to present a very exclusive interview with the person handpicked by President Barack Obama to chart the course of the government’s new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Professor Elizabeth Warren. Beginning on page 8, Jonathan Foxx, through a series of interviews from questions provided by a number of mortgage industry trade groups, hears the story on the formation and goals of the CFPB from Professor Warren herself. As of July 21, 2011, the CFPB prepares to oversee a number of laws and regulations. Professor Warren, who many speculate will be chosen to lead and oversee this new regulatory arm of the U.S. government, discusses the role the new agency will play in regulating the mortgage and financial services industries and how the CFPB’s open door policy will seek to establish bonds with and input from the many industries it oversees.
Our Mortgage Professional of the Month This month, we feature a profile on Michael J. D’Alonzo on page 18, current president of Creative Mortgage Group in New Glen, Pa. Mr. D’Alonzo also has another role in addition to running the day-to-day operations of Creative Mortgage as he serves as nationwide president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB). Michael shares the history of his 20-plus years in the industry and the direction and future of NAMB as we enter a new mortgage landscape.
Last, but certainly not least ... In addition to the aforementioned features this month, our regular contributors will also provide their perspectives on an array of topics: Andy W. Harris will break down how to construct the perfect business team on page 4; Charlie W. Elliott discusses the accuracy of appraisals in today’s world on page 10; Dave Hershman looks at the soft recovery of the American economy on page 13; Jonathan Foxx’s second installment in his series on the Ability-to-Repay rule can be found on page 20; Deb Killian in the NAMB Perspective column discusses the power of trade association involvement on page 22; and much more. Enjoy the issue and please do not hesitate to let me know what you think of the publication, either by e-mail at andrew@nmpmediacorp.com, by interacting with us on Twitter by Following @natlmortgagepro; or by Liking us on Facebook at Facebook.com/mortgageprofessional … I think that covers all of my social media outlets! Until next month …
RTGAGE PRO
SSIONAL
JULY 2011
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I hereby christen July “Social Media Month”
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KANSAS MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE
NationalMortgageProfessional.com
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS/PRESS RELEASES To submit any material, including articles and press releases, please contact Editor-in-Chief Eric C. Peck at (516) 409-5555, ext. 312 or e-mail ericp@nmpmediacorp.com. The deadline for submissions is the first of the month prior to the target issue.
A Message From NMP Media Corp. Executive Vice President Andrew T. Berman
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National Mortgage Professional Magazine is published monthly by NMP Media Corp. Copyright © 2011 NMP Media Corp.
Andrew T. Berman, Executive Vice President NMP Media Corp.
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