Helping people is a passion of mine, but getting a thank you when not asking for it is even better. I received a contact e-mail through Active Rain from a consumer looking for some help in regards to financing on 01/21/08. We finally closed on her loan on 02/15/08. I received an e-mail from her later on that day which read :
Jeff,
I do have to say, I’m not so sure we would have a closing if it were up to another company. You persevered more than anyone else; kept on top of all the requests and details and always kept me informed as to the status. We have had several refinances in the past that were nightmares. We have been overcharged fees as well as promised a closing date in a few weeks. The closing took 10 weeks because the mortgage broker promised things he couldn’t deliver. You got our closing done in approximately 23 days and I know that it was not easy because of our financial situation.
I think in a few more months if we had stayed with our present mortgage company, we would have had serious credit problems and with the adjustable rate increase coming up in August we could have ended up losing our home. It’s so nice to breathe a sigh of relief and know that I once again this summer will have a beautiful garden to relax in. Please feel free to use me as a reference anytime.
Thanks again. Veronica
I love being a part of a team and on the same page. I had a lawyer contact me on 2/3/08 because she saw my profile here on Active Rain. Her and her business partner have a large group of hedge fund investors looking to buy servicing pools from other large lenders. These are typically pools of money ranging from 15 million to 100 million dollars in loans that are going bad, typically behind on their mortgage payments. Basically, they need a lender as ourselves that can come in and review the pools of money to give them an idea of how many can be refinanced prior to them buying the pool. Their goal is to hold onto the least amount of loans after its all said and done. What do we get out of it? A chance to refinance any loan from that pool of mortgages bought from them. After our first conversation on the phone, I received this e-mail from the lawyer.
"Jeff, FANTASTIC TALKING TO YOU!!! Glad to meet someone else who also believes you can make money AND help people. We, at XYZ, are very excited as this could be a win-win for all involved." And at the end of the e-mail, she has this phrase. "Do well, by doing good"
The owner of my company and I met them in NYC last Wednesday for 3 hours and came away with positive thoughts. As we were driving back, I received a call from the lawyer in which she thanked me several times for taking the time in meeting them. They have talked to a handful of lenders and never felt the same vibe that they felt with us. It looks like to be a good business relationship!!!
I had a client actually call me locally because she read some of my blogs here on Active Rain. She needed someone that truly understood the ins and outs of FHA mortgages. They are going through a really bad time which I wrote about here : Good people can finish last......
After hearing her story, I have been on a little crusade to help her no matter what it takes basically on some of the time that I have left. We have been in constant contact each week since she first called me back on 01/25/08.
Well, I received an e-mail from her the other day with a Valentine's card. She is married with 3 kids and it made me realize that people can just wish you a happy valentine's day because they care and are thankful. (don't forget, I am a guy)
Just yesterday, I had a consumer from Maryland e-mail me through Active Rain because she had some questions. Here is how she started her e-mail.
"Hi Jeff, first of all, your blogs have helped me correct many lenders about FHA MIP."
I got the chance to speak to her on the phone yesterday and she told me that she was even working with 2 lenders locally, but after reading my blogs, she had to go back to them to bring up some key points that didn't seem right on their Good Faith Estimate. Both of these loan officers apologized and corrected their good faith estimates. Ouch... I guess this even proves that local lenders can mess up.
But here is the true story behind this. She mentioned that she has been reading my blogs for over a few weeks, which just proves that you never know who is reading your blogs and for how long before they contact you.
Overall.... not only has Active Rain helped with my business, but it has helped with educating consumers and real estate agents across the country. Rich Jacobson wanted to hear these types of success stories. ""Testimonials in the Rain" - What's YOUR Story?" Lasty, I have made many friends along the way. Please read : Active Rain does work & not only for me -- Success Stories!!!! -- 11/12/07
Friendships because of Active Rain from all over that have finally met........
Awesome Job! Congratulations. It is all worth it if you put your heart into it.
Congratulations on your success. I will also agree that local, internet and out of state lenders can ALL mess up. As always I suggest to my clients that a local lender is a plus for them...across the ocean and time difference...not to mention that there is NO recourse if something goes wrong as well as local lenders KNOW our contract and laws in Hawaii.
As always, there is good/bad / mediocre in any business...it is certainly the practices of the professional that will play a big part in success...no matter where they are :)
Again, congratulations on your success.
Hi Jeff, I know what you mean. It's often the small things like a thank you when you least expect it that makes it all worthwhile. I also love when clients send me thank you chocolates but... that's another story.
TINA..... I agree, there is a lot of time spent on here and just in blogging, but after looking back, it does make it worth it. thanks for the congrats
JO.... thank you for those kind words and for stopping by.
RUTH.... yes, it is worth it, thanks....
SALLY...... in regards to out of state lenders. I will not argue the fact that it's a lot different for those in Hawaii. Not only the time difference, but lending is totally different there than in most places. I am speaking more in regards to someone living in Michigan or California, but have spoken to someone as myself in New Jersey. 65% of my business in the last 2 years has been out of state, all successful. As you know, it does come down to the individual. And thanks for the congrats, twice. :o)
MARTI....... yes, just the small things that makes all the difference in the world. But the box of candies? hhhmmm
Congratulations on your success here on Active Rain, I started here in October, but didn't begin to see the real value of it. I really started noticing the value in late January and early February and I'm sure it will increase the more that people see and start reading our blogs. I do have to learn how to attach it to our other blogs
DAVID..... it still takes some time... I mentioned in this blog, Free Beer for comments on all blogs posted this weekend!!!, on how long it might take and what to try. As each month goes on, the more return that I see. Thanks and good lick.
DeANDREA..... thank you very much.... and yes, hard work usually leads to more business and to a better future.
DENA..... who would have thunk that... lol Seriously, yes, the world is just catching up with AR and blogging. It's actually good to be ahead of the game for once.
MARGARET...... that is a great point... yes, I have made great friends and have received some good business.... but just the stuff that I have learned from AR and from so many that have shared. Great points...
KLARQUE........ thanks for the compliment. Yes, it is great to have someone appreciate all of our hard work that goes into making a transaction successful. thanks
DANNY..... I agree, this is what AR is all about, at least to me. Thanks for the congrats.
ELAINE.... thank you very much for the thoughtful thoughts and comments. It just shows, even hear on the 'Rain', that many might not comment, but that they read your stuff. Again, thanks for those polite compliments.
CAROLE..... yes, I am totally thrilled, especially for the fact that most of this took place within 10 days. Thanks for your support and thought comments.
BRIAN...... thanks and yes, you are still my friend. These are pictures that I had saved on my computer. Remember, my camera phone wasn't working at Inman.... I didn't have every pic saved from everyone's blogs that were written in regards to Bloggers Connect in NYC. Thanks for stopping by.
JILL...... thanks and thanks for the congrats... and for stopping by.
LISA R. ....... I totally agree and I try to practice this from time to time when I feel like someone gave me exceptional service. It's nice when it comes back. And yes, I love hearing about these success stories. Looking forward to when we meet again. Hope all is well....
LARRY...... That was my 8th closed because of blogging... and I have 3 more in the pipeline from blogging and one actually on AR, whom I am doing their loan. One of my goals is to keep writing about FHA at least 50% of the time. Thanks for stopping by and for your support.
KEN.... absolutely correct and I am finding this out more and more, that there are a lot more reading are stuff for some lengths of time, before they contact us. And in your example, your personality was evident in your writing, hence why she contacted you later. That must have made you feel good.
On another note, looking forward to hearing about this event in a few months. thanks
ROBERTA..... thanks... I hope it continues... that's good, that you are just now starting to get some play from contacts on AR. My biggest advice that I could offer, just keep writing about your area and about real estate.
THESA..... thanks ... but big boy? lol How is the snow out there?
???????...... thanks... wished you would have signed in. And why is it ashame that nobody else is using it in your area? Seriously, I don't mind sharing some of my secrets, knowledge, and a few other things with this community, because you all are here. But why would I want to keep inviting 100's of loan officers, that could possibly get some business from blogging. I want to be known all over the net. Yes, there is enough at times to go around for many, but I want first stab at most.
MARC...... yes, there is a lot of google juice here. But if you think about it, we help, because so many of us are writing good quality content... and that is what google loves. But I agree, it would have taken a little longer out on my own. And thanks for the congrats.
AUDREY...... thanks and thanks for stopping by.
JANIE...... yes, I am proud of it. But I also wanted to show so many on here that AR and blogging does work. You just need to keep at it for a while and not quit. It took about a good solid 11 to 14 months before this all started coming together.
DESIREE.... lol my pleasure. It was a great time and yes, well have to catch up soon, after you are done your tour of the US and AR... lol