FHA Mortgage Expert - Tri-State Area - New Jersey/PA/Delaware

That's an excellent rebuttal and I applaud you for posting. People are getting loans and homes are getting sold in every market in the land.

Jeff,

This is an absolutely fantastic blog entry.  You put in a lot of work and had a lot to say.

Thank you for taking the time to do this.

Jeff - It is comforting to see that someone else is miffed and perplexed by the media's need to shape news. Time and again they put a spin on things that leaves knowledgable folks shaking their head. I am all for putting the truth out there. Unfortunately, truth does not sell. Facts spun one way or another can be contrived to make news exciting, dire or enticing. Truth may be boring. The truth spends its time on the under belly of fiction. I am with you.

Jeff - Ironically, I wrote to our local paper a few weeks back about contributing to the paper as an insider into what is going in the Mortgage Market.  He responded back, liking the idea, but I haven't heard back since.  I think I will email the chap right about now.

Jeff. Come on now. Don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.     ;)

Seriously, awesome blog. We get so disgusted with the 'bleeds it leads' media that it's easier to shut it off then to do anything constructive about it. This morning our company corporate VP for the region said that our sales revenue for September was up 52% over September 2007. Plus our market saturation inventory is shrinking down to numbers not seen since God knows when. Do you think that we could have a statistic like that if peoples loan applications were being denied?

Excellent points Mr. B! We've begun trying to get the ear of our local newspaper a few weeks ago. Mr. Sardi is spearheading that effort. It's not easy to accomplish. But, Sardi is nothing else if not persistent. As for quotes that appear like the ones you noted - there really is no rhyme or reason to them. They are generally selected for quotes by the luck of the draw or a friend / family relation. Heck, as an LO with one month in the business while with Chase I was interviewed for quotes in an article. Should we elect to band together, the voices of true professionals would be heard and more importantly used in articles we see everyday! GRASSROOTS! Its big fun!

VICKIE..... we need to voice that statement more than ever. Money is still out there and being lent to the consumer. Does your current loan officer not understand the basics? Do they not know how to work on a semi hard deal?  AH, maybe that is the case. thanks for the kind words..

RICHARD...... I turly appreciate that comment, because yes, I did put a lot into this. It was a tad long, but I spent about 3 hours trying to make this polished. I just didn't want to criticize the media without giving examples, hence what made this a longer blog than most... and just for the fact that many will only skim through it... I hope not.  thanks again..

JOHN.....  I think many of us are miffed... and some still write about it... but I wanted to write something more detailed, calling people out and backing it with examples... hence why this was a little longer than I wanted it to be. But I think it's more complete this way and I get my point across more actually. And yes, the media loves to spin the facts, which gets more readership at times. But I hate fluff or misleading info.

JASON..... I would love to hear more about that. I know from speaking to you today, you said that you even blogged about it. Please put the link to that post in here. I must have missed that one. And yes, get a hold of that chap right now.  ;o)

ROB & JEANNIE...... . if people would read a 2,000 word blog, I think I would have added a lot more in this post. ;o)  But it's longer than what many will read anyhow...  but yes, I just had to get it out there, in how I see and read things.

Overall, I am sure many of us get disgusted. And business has been a little better for me this year. But it's slowed down a lot in the last month. I wonder if it is partially because of the media, such as what is shown above. Wouldn't that discourage the average buyer?   thanks for your input.

SCOTT......  MR G. ... funny, I was just talking to Jason about that earlier. And as he stated in his comment, he is going to try and call that gentleman again. Hey, it could be some work, but yes, persistence is a key factor in regards to this fight on the media.... And yes, there is no rhyme or reason, but that is where we need to step up and give examples or reason.... not just opinion.   thanks and thanks for the compliment.

Gosh Jeff, I think this is the best post of yours I have ever read.

Hey! Loan Officer,

Well said! But, what are you trying touch? The press knows what they're doing. They very carfully select the people to be interviewed. They started 8 years ago convincing us that John McCain was a Conservative. Now they y Obama is a Markeses! There not stupid, they just long for Communism!

God help us. Personally, I've voted, so next week I'm going to stay home with my guns and Bible.There are allot of good but foolish people that are going to vote against America. The press and the fools have replaced logic with hate, It's the only way to justify their piston

Bill

30

Jeff, you are on fire!  i love reading your posts and this is got to be one of the best yet.  I am so sick of "the sky is falling" when it's an adjustment and it needed to be.  I don't like what is happening but I am so excited that maybe now some of these banks will renegotiate the short sales.  I thought I'd be knitting for Thanksgiving but I'm glad to be selling.  I feel like air has been put back into the tires of real estate because of all of this negative press. 

I reached out to a banker today on a file that has been collecting dust awaiting two conditions which aren't hard and mentioned that if the rate dropped on mortgages would it be reflected in these client's file?  (granted it would have to something substantial) His remark to me was that they may go up and this has been a difficult file.  She's borderline on approval and even a quarter point would give this woman breathing room in her file. 

You have given me fresh air today and I thank you for it!

BETH......   so, you have only read 2 of my blogs?  lol   Seriously, thank you very much for that very polite compliment.

WILLIAM.......  hey you.... you, loan officer... lol    Yes, for the most part, the press does know what they are doing.  But am I going to state that in my post, when I am trying to get a message out not only to us, the consumer, and to the media. You can't tell me that every single person in the media acts this way. All it takes are a few that will listen and publish.

In regards to your second statement... I am not even trying to think about it all right now. If the election doesn't go the way that many of us need it to go, I might just head to the islands and become a bartender... seriously, it could be very scary. You make some excellent points. Voice of not only reason, but of years spent in society...  enough said...

BARB....... thank you very much for those kind comments.  I think many of us are tired of the 'sky is falling'....  the money is still out there.

In regards to your client... I am not licensed as of yet in IL., but I do recomend someone very qualified...  let me know... but from speaking to you, 80 days is way to long with poor excuses.... call Larry as soon as... thanks

Well said Jeff... I had a client who said he heard on the news that banks were not lending any money and so he called around to a couple local banks and was shocked when they said they had money to lend.  When I spoke with him I let him know "Hell yea, there's money out there...you just have to qualify.  That's all."

Cheers
Paul Dunn

Jeff - Here is a link to the post that I did in regards to a local story that ran a few weeks ago.  Both Erica Ramus (right here from AR) and yours truly were quoted several times.  I thought it was a pretty good article, let me know what you think.

Jeff, I know the media reads Activerain and I sure do hope they find this post from all over....you've got an excellent message to send out that everyone needs to hear!

Jeff, you tell em! Seriously  a lot of misinformation or worse correct information with certain pertinent fact conspicuously omitted. Most irresponsible reporting, especially when they are asking doctors for legal advice.

Bo

PAUL.....  yes, that is a biggie also, that you need to qualify. But again, even that part is not as hard as so many are making it out to believe. If anything, to clean up credit, okay, so it takes another 4 to 6 months... but it would be an easy and smooth process.  and thanks for the polite comment.

JASON....... thanks for the link... I just read the article... very nice job... we need to have more people talk about the positives and to not mislead the public.

CAROLE....... yes, I know some of the media do... but overall, we still don't see a lot of positive fedback, but misleading negative feedback, such information that I mentioned above.  thanks for the compliment.

BO...... it is very irresponsible in my opinion.... and it's reckless in my own opinion.  thanks for your input..

Jeff,

Thanks for the post. Perhaps if you didn't view it as news, it would be more palatable. I call it sensationalism.

Jeff,

So I guess you are pissed, huh?  The media seems slanted now more than ever before and it isn't pretty.

Nice rant Jeff!  They can call me too if they want to.  I turned down a news story in Jan cuz I knew it would be slanted.  I ended up on Fox Biz channel in June but they told me the story was about something else and it ended up being about Las Vegas' economy.

Anyhoo, I don't trust the media.  I also say more power to us who understand loan programs (I have an understanding of what is available even though I am not an LO.)  We will sell more and educate more in the end because they have no hope according to the media!

Good morning Jeff.  You made some excellent points.  I was just talking with a client last night about this because of some things he heard in the media.  We talked for about 40 minutes or so.  Its really a pain when we are constantly having to undo what the media has done.  Not that media started this mess, but they certainly are not helping....not even a little.

WILLIAM.......  well, not sure how I could agree to it no matter if it was called news or not. Not when they, the media, pants a different picture. And not even the media, but certain individuals that mislead with their comments. So then I blame the media for not doing their duediligence and investigating what is misleading or not.

FRAN G. ......  yes, I am pissed...  and it's hurting some of our business. And if not that, if you read some of the comments on other posts, it is now taking more time to even talk to a potential client because of what they have heard. Or as in my example in the post, to where you have a loan officer giving information that is 100% wrong. I spoke to two other very qualified loan officers last night who both knew the answer right away.  thanks

RENEE......   thanks.... it's admirable that you declined such interviews, knowing that they would twist your interview. Not everyone would do that. And yes, I don't trust a lot of the media either...  and I am going to start contacting everyone and anyone in my local area and in Philly, to see if we can get some real news out there.  thanks for the compliment.

JOHN....... see, excellent point... you talked to this person for 40 minutes, just because of the negative news alone.  And yes, they certainly aren't helping it. It starts with us, giving the correct information to the media. But where I blame the media is just as I told Fran, they don't investigate their sources or the information. They seem to just post it...

Jeff,

Thanks for looking at things from the correct perspective.

The media and even people in the mortgage industry are comparing the present to the very recent past when money was being handed out like candy. That was a historical anomaly - and actually a bad thing to do to many of those people who weren't really ready to be homeowners. Loan officers whose only stream of clients are borrowers for those subprime loans that aren't there anymore may well be turning down half of their leads. If they are turning down half the loans in process, they need to quit the business because they don't know what they are doing.

Now with some bumps along the way, as real life tends to have, the mortgage market is swinging back toward normalcy. That's why the common sense approach of FHA is working well for those who know the guidelines. Too many loan officers who entered the business within the last few years never bothered to learn the rules of FHA. Now they have to catch up or pay the price. I wish they would turn their attention to learning instead of inappropriately misleading the public.

Thanks, Jeff. The more we dispel the notion that it's impossible to get loans, the better off everyone is. Have a great day! And I'm glad you're pissed!

Paul

CARL.....  not even comparing the present to the past, but those that mislead even now... or if they don't know, they just spit out an answer for now.... and then when it's wrong, it's to late. The closing gets delayed or doesn't happen.

Overall, yes, those loan officers that were mostly subprime and think that FHA is the new subprime. Many still don't know how to read a credit report.   thanks for your input and feedback.

PAUL...... we need to get more people to not only write about this, but contact the local media and get someone to listen to us...  thanks

Hey Jeff, congrats on the feature.

And thanks for the mention!! Here's your star!!

Amen brother! I don't know why the media posts this kind of garbage when 1. It lacks credible backing and 2. All it does is scare the consumers and make the problem worse! Don't they know that half the battle is gaining consumer confidence... they are the ones making a mess of things!

Thanks for this post!

Brendan Winans

Thank you Jeff! I am so tired of the media preaching doom and gloom.  That is not reality everywhere. There is still down payment assistance available.  100% loans are out there with as little as $500 down. Will the media report on that? Nope. In my area in Georgia we have city, county and state programs available.  I had a closing last month where my buyer only put $100 down.  Yes, it can be done.  Buyers just need to work with knowledgeable agents and lenders who actually know these programs. I hope people will start hearing the truth.  Thanks for putting it out there.

All excellent points Jeff. I think this is called "Spin" on the media's part isn't it.

Jeff - I had this very same conversation yesterday with an agent friend of mine.  We closed on a property with her a week ago, have another one going in two weeks, and she has 3 other houses under contract.  And, guess what, out of those 5 loans ... 2 of them are 100% and the other 3 are FHA (one as a non-occupying co-borrower, funny you would mention that in your blog).  Doesn't sound like the doom and gloom like the media is portraying to me.

Jeff--It is too bad the bad sound bites are more important than facts isn't it?

Thank you for the great post!  Have you thought of doing a press release?

Thanks for the post, Jeff.  Hopefully some consumers will read it and discover the truth.  You have to wonder how much of this housing downturn was a result of media.

TOM...... . my pleasure and thanks for the polite comment....  but keep your Dallas Stars away from me. Well, the Dallas Cowgirls that is.... and don't call me again when the Phillies are playing in the World Series.. lol

BRENDAN........ . well, as someone said, they know what they are doing. And I believe that... but, at the same time, this could hurt our economy and even hurt the papers. If no money circulates amongst the real estate industry, it won't circulate anywhere else either.  But yes, it does scare the consumers...

JEN....... . exactly, you can still get into houses with little or no money down. Even if you have lesss than perfect credit.. I am going to be writing a first time homebuyers series starting tonight. We just need to defeat the media and keep posting positive and truthful information.

BILL...... . thank you very much for the compliment. Yes, it is called a spin, on the media's part. Maybe we need to put our own spin on things.  thanks

KEVIN & MARYELLEN aka KMG mtg...... . wow... those are some awesome transactions that the media and the consumer needs to hear about. And we need to keep writing about this often also... thanks.

Fantastic. I'm so glad this got featured.

TERRI...... . extremely bad... and I noticed that it has effected business for many of us also. But as someone said, the media knows what they are doing. Which is even more sad than anything else... do they know what they could do by doing this? You could bring us all down... and quickly.

DEBBIE..... . thank you very much for that polite compliment. And yes, part of my goal is to get a hold of the press, locally and within the region. If you have an ideas or a way of doing this, I am all ears... thanks But I would like to get many of us here on AR involved, to make this happen.

MATT..... . in the last 3 months, I would bet 50% of the market and business has suffered because the misleading information in the media and from the media... thanks

BETH.... thanks, I appreciate that....  having 5MF tomorrow?  ;o)

I too am so sick and tired of the media as well, they started hounding me in 2003 when I was president elect of the NH Association of REALTORS to comment on the housing bubble. They wanted me to tell them the market was bursting, our market started to slow down 2 years after that interview. They were pissed I didn't tell them what they wanted to hear so they said they would just call someone that would give them the answer they wanted.

I hate the media.

You got my attention.

What you said makes complete sense.

My opinion is the media is to blame for a lot of things.  When they were screaming "Buy, Buy, Buy", any warm body was buying.  Now they are saying the housing market is in a slump, bla bla bla, and they've taken a bad situation and created an absolute monster.  If you ask me, they are to blame for the recession, if there is one.  Great blog - Thanks.

I keep hearing this even on Active rain but I don't see it. I am closing ahead of last year by almost 19% and have had no one with a score of 600 or up turned down and I am running about 70% with a credit score of 500 to 600 but I am converting them to rent to owns. Whn times get tough I just get creative.

Best blog I read in a long time!!! Thank you for posting it. I am glad it got featured. Hopefully it will get media's attention

Absolutely great blog post. Was reading it like a book waiting for a punchline and boy did you deliver. I love how you stand up for what you believe in. Seriously, this was very educational in that it gives us the tools to allow us to retort against those negative people who speak of gloom and doom. Keep up the great work!!!

Jeff,

Thankfully I was asked to interview in the past about Canada but it never went off so I guess I'll just stay away from it all together.

This DEFINITELY deserves the "Featured Post" spot.  Great post.

I was just looking at the Zillow discussion board and WHEW!  people are completely buying into what the national news is telling General Q. Public.  I know that some areas are bad, but they make such generalizations on the news that millions of people are running scared and it is driving the real estate market right down the toilet.

... can you tell I'm all wound up!  :-)

Great post!!!!!!!!!!!! That is sooooo true! Thanks for sharing with everyone

Great post!!!!!!!!!!!! That is sooooo true! Thanks for sharing with everyone

JAY..... that must have stunk to be in that kind of position, to where they wanted your honest feedback. But best of all, that you didn't give it to them. And I applaud you for that. Many just want their name in the paper, no matter what kind of news they give them, misleading or not... Sad, but so true.

CHERI...... . I got your attention?  What did I say?  Free money?  lol  Seriously, thanks for the feedback.

DARLA..... .  ditto....  they said buy. buy, buy... and it was to easy for people back then with all of those no money mortgage programs. Then values dropped out.. and nobody can make payments now. You wonder how many are just crying wolf?  Overall, I think the media is partially at fault... but only by 10 to 15% if I had to put a number on it. That's in regards to the recession comment. In regards to the market that we are currently in now, in the last 2 months, I blame the media for 50% of what is happening. I can't tell you how many people tell me that they heard that there is no money to be lent.. and this is coming from the consumer.

CHARLES..... . yes, the credit scores do matter... but also it just comes down to credit in general. And overall, a loan officer that knows how to screen the consumer very well and who can educate the consumer on their decisions... and not just throwing fluff out there... thanks for your feedback.

NELYA...... . wow, well, thank you very much for that very kind compliment. And yes, I hope the media picks up on this. But I was serious in what I said at the end, let's get this in front of the media also. Let us write some posts about our experiences and the current news, link them together, and send them to the media.. thanks

NATHAN or EVERARD...... . thank you very much for those kind words of feedback... much appreciative. I guess part of it is the passion that I have for what I do. I never said anyone was perfect, but crap, at least be upfront and treat people the way you would want to be treated.  And yes, we need to fight back... and make the media aware of this. Again, thanks for the comments..

NEAL..... .  what did they want to know about Canada?  Are you trying to say that they were asking for your input or opinion on something that you were familiar with?   Just curious... thanks

I had a haircut today and my hairdresser was espousing that same sentiment. I have closed every single buyer that we have found a house for so far this year.  Yes some took a little more research on the part of the mortgage broker and the UW's are asking for more and more docs, but deals closed.

She was surprised when I told her that.  Maybe it's just the mortgage brokers I refer people for loans...

Great work on this word of truth. You know I'm in with you on letting the Media know the reality of the market. My first loan was FHA in 1978 and the last time I looked FHA was still in business making loans.

The Media and Real Estate: A Toxic Relationship?

Jeff - You make some real valid points here, but I don't think the headline "Hey all you MEDIA OUTLETS, listen up, I am pissed!!!!!" is going to get much serious or favorable attention from the media.

Jeff..Way to go. My hat goes off to you.  I had a rant or 2 of my own a couple of weeks ago. I too am sick to death of the negative spin the media spouts off about.  I agree that people that don't need to be purchasing right now aren't qualifying.  DUH...back to basics is a good place to be for home ownership.  You did an excellent job on this post. It's one of my favorites, and that is saying alot, because I think all of yours are wonderful!!!!!

So Jeff.... I forwarded your post to our local housing reporter here ini Bend Oregon and explained your qualifications and the beauty of our AR network.

KERRY...... . wound up... fired up,,,,, frustrated.... pissed... it all comes together in my opinion.  And yes, this kind of negative news is driving the market down the toilet. And I need to venture over to that Zillow message board.  thanks

SHERIE..... . my pleasure and thanks for the polite compliment & for stopping by.

MELINA..... . good for you... and yes, it sounds like you have a few loan officers that know what they are doing then. It seems more rare than ever before.. especially the misinformation and the misleading. I guess some people don't mind sticking the deal on the wall to see if it falls down.

CAMERON.... . thank you very much for that kind comment. And yes, FHA has always been there. Basically the same guidelines since I first got into the business in 1992. Sure, the qualifying rations have changed, but only by 2%. ... and you can now have a non occupant co borrower on refinances also... and we had 95% cash out, but that will be going away very soon.  thanks again

JOHN...... . thanks... and maybe yes. But then again, maybe I was just acting like the media themselves, wanting people to read what I wrote. At least it wasn't misleading, right?  But yes, you make a valid point. But I will push this issue and see who will listen to me.. thanks for the input.

ELIZABETH...... . bingo... back to the basics... back to a borrower actually qualifying with income and if not, they need a ton of assets.  Back to common sense. But wait, those programs have always been around. It was the other programs that made borrowing much easier to qualify for. As many have said, all you needed was a pulse.   thanks for the kind compliments.

Sounds like there is a lot of gear grinding going on here. But I agree.

I guess you are pissed off.  It all depends on who you talk to

Interesting blog.  I am going to blog on the people who ARE able to get loans.  I do think the media goes overboard with their fear mongering news. 

Hey Jeff, Hope you don't mind that I posted a link back here from my post.

Keep up the good work.

Jeff: 

I'll give you an AMEN!  Excellent article...... totally awesome and FAIR AND BALANCED!

Perhaps each of us need to send this to the Editor of our major newspapers in our own towns.

Just an idea

Totally awesome post, Jeff.  I'm gonna reblog this if you don't mind. One of my friends told me she's telling people to not even bother if they don't have at least 10% down - yet, I closed a deal less than a month ago that involved a down payment of $500.

Hi Jeff~ Hey!  Just how mad are you?  LOL.  I think it is so frustrating that the media portrays everything as doom and gloom. They don't walk in the trenches like we do in real estate.  They don't have a clue!  I am sure there are some decent journalists out there that aren't afraid to get to the truth of the matter....  we just haven't found them YET! 

Jeff great article.  I have shared my comments with local media about talking to Realtors about reality but as your previous writers have noted these people just like to excite people with bad news. It is very frustrating

NAR needs to get the national media to interview and then have Realtors from parts of the country to speak about the market opportunities and the like

CAT...... .  very cool... would love to know if and when that person replies back to you and what their response was. Thanks... very truly need to keep pushing this, to see what the media will do about it.

THOMAS...... .  ha ha ha....  and I guess so... but someone needs to push this topic. Don't you think the misleading news has effected the market in recent months?  thanks

RUSS...... .  well, I am very upset. But pissed off is used to get more attention... thanks

EMILY..... . exactly... I think we need to blog more about those getting loans... what their credit scores were and how much money that they put down.. thanks for an idea...

CAMERON...... . no, I don't mind at all... if you want, you can come back and link it in a comment.. thanks   .. PS>.. you can even reblog this post if you want.... thanks

FRAN...... .  I am glad that it came across fair and balanced. Sometimes it's harder to see that when you are the author.  And yes, I would love to see many of us turn to our local papers and the editors and bring this to their attention. In Tom Burris's case, try and get that reporter to put out a new article. But I wouldn't see that happening. So I think it's a great idea... and thanks for the polite compliment.

KAREN...... .  no, not at all. Please reblog this.  And that person that is telling people not even to bother unless they have 10% down?.... sorry, but should be shot. Are they a realtor? If so, they should be selling houses and not give mortgage advice.. except to speak to a true mortgage professional.  and thanks for the kind compliment.

VICKIE..... .  well, very frustrated, that's for sure. I am dead serious though, this crap that the media keeps putting out very well could not only hurt the real estate market, but many different types of markets... those that are dependent on the real estate market. And then it could trickle down to other types of business, because money won't be circulating.  They don't think about that.. I would bet on it.  thanks for your feedback.

Ah Jeff, I couldn't agree with you more.  Problem is, most of them think they're smarter than us and when they read stuff like this, they just brush it off as us being ignorant.  That, with the fact that they only want to report what sells, and we're in a serious pickle.  I honestly wonder if there is ANYTHING that could ever change the road our media has gone down.  

 Well of course, misinformation is everywhere, but what can we really do other than voice our voice. Yes not everyone is an expert.

Jeff, nice work! Unfortunately, these misconceptions are not specific to the mortgage process...It appears to have infected the entire real estate industry. If I have to convince another buyer to strike while inventories are high and rates are low, I may pull out whatever hair is left on my head...Keep up the fight!

Jeff, nice work! Unfortunately, these misconceptions are not specific to the mortgage process...It appears to have infected the entire real estate industry. If I have to convince another buyer to strike while inventories are high and rates are low, I may pull out whatever hair is left on my head...Keep up the fight!

Well said Jeff... The media would make you think the sky if falling.. The best thing to do is just turn off the tube !

Bad press seems all too common nowadays, I still can't believe my ears when I hear the Media saying that Mortgage Companies have stopped lending money....what?  Thats just crazy, its like they don't bother checking the truth and hop all over the bandwagon of giving out negative vibes.  good post.

Congratulations on the featured post Jeff-Very well written post.. This is one of many reasons why you are the FHA Expert. Thats why its good not to always believe what you hear on television or read in newspaper because as we all know media sometimes distort the fact. If Lenders are no longer lending money then how are people still able to buy houses? Exactly. I am definitely going to send this post to some local and major newspapers. Great post Jeff.

Jeff great post.  I sent a blast e-mail out to all of my referral partners last week regarding this exact topic.  I titled it "Enough Media Misinformation".  The reponse I got was overwhelming.  The media has perpetuated this housing crisis for long enough!

So Jeff, you are saying why is it that the people with the 'mike' have no experience in what they are talking about?  MY POINT EXACTLY.  They must look good in front of the camera, but have no loan experience to speak of.  Writes well but last did a loan in 1985.  Same holds true of a well known broker that blathers on NBC on real estate matters.  When was the last time you sold a house lady? 

I agree whole heartedly with your idea.  I guess it's time to start.  Let's come out with guns blazing.

Thank you..thank you...thank you!  Very well written and much needed in this age of misinformation.  I had to quit watching all the "experts" in the media to keep my blood pressure from exloding.

The media can either help or hurt us.  Lets be proactive and provide the media with good information.

Jef, We are equally frustrated with much of the news media.  I dislike it when the television news takes a 1 minute positive real estate interview and they edit it down to 10 seconds to get a comment that can be made to sound scary or negative.  

Jeff, great blog entry,  Unfortuantley there are to many uneducated people out there that don't know any better. While the refi boom was going on any idiot could get into are business.  Gratefully, most of these people are gone.  I started a media blitz to all teh news agencys in my area.  some have called and some have not. keep plugging and dont let thes people get you down. They will take your game down.

Locally, we took a proactive approach with the media and said for any statistics please come get it direct from our MLS and local trade organization, not Joe the Plumber!  It has been working very well and has averted several bad articles (i.e. Is this housing marking putting undue duress on the homeless shelters?)

In college, I got so fed up with the media that I boycotted them for about 2 years.  Then I finally came to the realization that being 20% mislead by the media is not as bad as being 100% ignorant!

STANLEY....... .  yes, it is very frustrating... and I have seen NAR get involved more lately, but they need to add in their advertisement that mortgage money is still out there. And that would be good also, getting realtors involved with interviews from different parts of the county.  And thanks for the compliment.

RYAN...... . I think what could change the media is more people are ourselves, to get the correct messages out there...  thanks

ROSS...... . I see a lot of misinformation our there more than just a few times and it is very scary and sad. And yes, we just need to keep getting it out there and correcting others.

ARCANGELO...... . I truly believe that the misinformation from media has effected the real estate industry and I think it has gotten worse as of lately. My dad has been asking me more in the last 2 months, how I am doing, because the mortgage industry is upside down. But a lot of this is what they are getting from the media also.  Thanks for the compliment.

ROLAND....... . one reason why I hardly watch the news at night. .,  most of it is just negative. and thanks for the polite comment.

JUSTIN...... . not checking the truth really gets under my skin. You think we would be able to penalize these guys for doing stuff like this.  Yes, bad press seems more common more than ever now. And thanks for the compliment.

LANRE,,,,,, , I would love to see this post get out to the media.... and for others to write stuff like this. Thanks for all of those kind compliments....

ROBERT...... . that's a great idea, sending a blast out to all of your referral partners. And yes, the media has done this long enough. We do need to fight back and now....  thanks for the compliment.

LYN..... .  yes, guns blazing... it's sad hearing people that are in the spotlight that really have no clue or who doesn't do their homework.

PAM....... . the problem here is, how do you know who is an expert?  If you only hear them or read them once or twice, seriously, how do you know. That is a scary part also. I get people that read me for a month and then e-mail me asking for help.  I would want some type of proof also... but again, even if you read someone for 6 months, how do you know if they are truly on top of their game?

TROY....... . well, we need to get in the media's face and get them to help us here.  And to do it now... In my opinion, we certainly need to be proactive.  thanks

SAM...... . that is probably the biggest pet peeve that I have with the media... very good point.  thanks

CHRISTOPHER aka In-Vision...... . yes, the refi boom did bring a lot of people into the mortgage industry that just wanted to make tons of money. And yes, we need to keep after the media and spread the truth. Thanks for the compliment.

JIM...... . some very good points.  And the approach with the local media in regards to stats was a good move.. thanks for your input and feed back.

Hi Jeff,

I read your post last week and agree 100% with your observations.  I call radio shows all the time and write letters to the editor correcting their mistakes.  I got so pissed that I started a one hour show about real estate on a local AM station at Penn State University.  My show is the glass half full version of reality.

I called you and e-mailed you last week and invited you on the show after reading your post.  I would love to have this dialogue with you and allow you to use the air to beat up the idiotic media but you never responded.

I'm still waiting to hear from you.  I thought you were so passionate about it that I was certain you would get back to me so I blogged about it on a blog I have been given on the local newspapers website.  Check it out:

  http://community.centredaily.com/?q=node/6252

 The invitation still stands so give me a call or e-mail me to schedule an appearance this week.  I love your passion and hope the listeners get to hear it.

Tim

I APPLAUD YOU...EXCELLENT POST....

YES, I'm tired of bad press.  That is the beautiful thing about blogs, it gives us a louder have a voice to share our positive experiences and view! 

Amber

Jeff - This is excellent stuff.  Not only have you refuted the media's droning drumbeat of negativity, but you have once again proven that you are an expert in FHA financing.  As for your challenge, here's what I recently wrote on the topic with regard to Austin's market conditions:

"How IS the Austin Real Estate Market these days?"

Thanks for helping to spread the word about the realities of the market.

TIM.... . when you tried contacting me, it was just bad timing. The Phillies winning the World Series and a parade to go to. Besides, the e-mail was last minute to even jump to the occasion. Yes, I would be interested and I will try calling you Monday. The two best ways to contact me are my cell phone or e-mail.  609-440-5133   jbelonger@ihmci.com   PS>. yes, I am passionate. But I get tons of e-mails per week from consumers and loan officers. And sometimes things go into junk mail also...  thanks

SHARON..... .  thank you very much for those kind words.

JASON & AMBER...... . Amber, once huge reason why I also love blogging. Not only can we voice things, but we can share our own voice. It's allowed others to get to know me better and has made my business and networking a tad easier. Thanks

JASON C. ...... . I think I read that article, but I'll go back to it....  thanks for the kind compliments. I truly do believe that we need to keep writing about this.  thanks

Bravo!!!  Jeff, you articulated this so well.  Keep shouting out loudly and clearly when you see crap like that.  Educate!

Great post.  The media needs to stop telling people they can't quailfy before they even make the phone call to find out.

Oh man, Don't even get me started about the media.

I think you put the media information out there well and it is an accurate description!

The media has been a big big THORN!

Thanks,

Tom Davis

PS - Can't the media be useful to do something to help matters? Or do they always insist on finding ways to make things doom and gloomy at all times?