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THE
REVERSE
“Forward Thinking in Reverse”
review
Volume I, Number 3
Valerie VanBooven
David Cesario
CallTodayToOpenTheDoor
ToTheOpportunities
877-574-1000
www.1stReverse.com
410 Quail Ridge Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559
Experience 1st Reverse
For lending professionals only and not intended for consumer “Concierge” Level Service and Support
distribution. © 2008 - 1st Reverse Financial Services, LLC.
THE
Cover Story
REVERSE review
Why Internet Markeng?
June 2008
by Gretchen Williams
Volume I, Number 3
REVERSE review
Contributing Authors
Daniel Duplantis
Barbara Santner
Valerie VanBooven
Jerry Wagner
David Cesario
Gretchen Williams
John Lunde
Monte Rose
Sam Collins
David Bancroft
Advertising Information
Rates, specificaons, and deadline informaon available.
phone : 858-217-5332
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THE
REVERSEreview
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liability company and is the publisher of The Reverse Review magazine. Reproducons or distribuon of
any materials obtained in the publicaon without wrien permission is expressly prohibited. The views,
claims and opinions expressed in arcle and adversement herein are not necessarily those of The Reverse
Review, its employees, agents or directors. This publicaon and any references to products or services
are provided “as is” without any expressed or implied warranty or term of any kind. While effort is made
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Aman Makkar
Editor
With the industry turning back to nearly 30 years of experience she had as a DE Underwriter.
the tried and true FHA loans, many in As a contract underwriter she was forbidden by FHA rules
the mortgage industry are becoming to use her extensive experience because she was not an
aware that there is an alarming lack of employee of the Lender for which she was underwring. She
DE Underwriters. With the industry focus maintained her training and kept herself updated with FHA
being on the Alt A and subprime market rules with the hope that they would come back some day.
over the last few years, the training of
underwriters for the FHA market had To make maers worse today, the pool of potenal DE
taken a back seat. Underwriters has been reduced greatly because this pool
comes from FHA Processors and there are less of them for
Going back a few years with the same reasons that the DE Underwriters are reduced,
FHA only doing 2% of the mortgage reducon in FHA loans in the past few years. This can be
business and DE Underwriters being evidenced by the many groups and organizaons that are
more expensive to hire, the training providing FHA training. Now, this might replenish the pool of
programs were minimized or in some potenals but it doesn’t provide the experience somemes
cases eliminated in favor of the more necessary when it comes to evaluang risk on many of
popular convenonal loan products. The the FHA products today. Remember, that the manually
current mortgage crisis brought back into focus the essenal underwrien loan looks at both the Lender invesng the
basics for the need of sound underwring decisions which money and whether FHA should insure the loan.
includes the analysis of risk for both FHA and the lender.
The advent of the Automated Underwring System (AUS) The Quality Control Department
perpetuated the problem of training the pool of potenal DE
Underwriters. Consequently, we find ourselves where we are DE Underwring for the Quality Control Department
today. presents similar issues. FHA Handbook 4060.1, Chapter 7-6
F., states:
When FHA revised one of their Handbooks in the 90’s
that addressed this issue, it has been overlooked or lile Each Direct Endorsement loan selected for a quality
used due to the lack of originaons for FHA financing. FHA control review must be reviewed for compliance
foresaw the need for “Full Eagle” lenders needing qualified with HUD underwring requirements, sufficiency of
underwring assistance for some specialty programs or documentaon and the soundness of underwring
when the Lender had large increases in volume. FHA judgments.
allows one Full Eagle lender to work with another Full Eagle
lender for such things as the underwring of HECM loans If the QC Underwriter is going to analyze for soundness of
when their DE Underwriter is not approved to underwrite underwring judgment and is not a DE Underwriter, then
HECM loans or underwrite other programs such as 203k a true check of the original underwriter is not made. Since
(rehabilitaon loans) or the New FHASecure program, which there were so few FHA loans originated, many shops have
has been implemented recently to help Americans save their FHA loans reviewed by non-DE Underwriters. Now, of course,
homes from foreclosure. filling the QC Department with at least one DE Underwriter
when there isn’t a sufficient number in the Underwring
One DE Underwriter that we spoke to has been in the Department, especially in small instuons, makes for a
mortgage business since 1981 and tells us her story of difficult proposion.
how five years ago she ended up working as a contract
underwriter for a PMI company in favor of ulizing the The QC situaon is much easier to recfy than the one in
the Underwring Department according to FHA rules. FHA About the Authors: Daniel J. Duplans, CMB, CRU is a 35-year
allows for outside contracng of the Quality Control funcon veteran of the mortgage finance business and is Execuve
although the Lender is sll liable for the QC program. Many Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of USA Underwriters
outside QC firms do not use DE Underwriters when they a division of American Reverse Mortgage Corporaon. He
review FHA loans and therefore the issue of checking the has held a single-family and mul-family DE from FHA since
Lender’s and FHA’s risk by the original Underwriter has not 1983. Duplans is one of only 10 in the US that holds both
changed with outside contractor providing the service. the CMB and CRU designaon from Mortgage Bankers
Associaon of America. He can be reached at D.J.Duplans@
Where Do We Go From Here? USAUnderwriters.com.
Unl such me as the pool of DE Underwriters gets Barbara C. Santner, CMB, CRU has been a DE Underwriter
replenished, the most viable and cost-effecve alternave since 1986 and serves as Vice President of Underwring for
is to go with a Full-Eagle Lender to contract out the DE USA Underwriters, a division of American Reverse Mortgage
underwring for both the Underwring Department and Corporaon. She manages the team of all DE Underwriters
Quality Control Department. The contractor is paid for only for helping other Full-Eagle Lenders in their underwring of
those FHA loans that need to be underwrien rather than all FHA products. She is also one of only ten in the US with
hiring full-me DE Underwriters for both the Underwring both the CMB and CRU designaon from Mortgage Bankers
and Quality Control Departments. Associaon of America. She can be reached at B.C.Santner@
USAUnderwriters.com.
10 Regions, ranked by HECM unit volume YTD. Including rank change from prior YTD, as well as growth rates.
Also includes acve lenders and growth
Lender distribuon graph and table, showing number of lenders growing at various growth rates YTD vs. prior
YTD, including volume aributable to each group of lenders.
Client Noces
1) Help improve data quality in the Reverse Mortgage industry. If you believe your company’s numbers on this report are inaccurate, please email us
(support@rminsight.net) and we will review your feedback promptly. Please include your name, company and contact informaon along with a thorough descripon
of the suspected inaccuracy. Thanks!
2) If you received this report as a trial or sample and would like to purchase this report or future reports for your company, please visit: www.rminsight.net/MICreports.
php
3) If you’ve been looking for a source for Reverse Mortgage intelligence beyond MIC endorsement numbers, we’ve got just what you need. Find out more at www.
rminsight.net/rmarket.php
1.40%
1.20%
10,000
1.00%
Penetration
Units
0.80%
0.60%
8,000
0.40%
0.20%
6,000 0.00%
2006-5 2006-9 2007-1 2007-5 2007-9 2008-1
2 year trend graph of monthly HECM unit volume and industry penetraon against 62+ homeowner households naonally.
Appendix
1) All stascs based on retail originaons from HUD’s Monthly HECM MIC reports
2) Loans are in unit volume, based on HUD reported mortgage insurance cerficate issuance
3) Lenders are aggregated using HUD’s lender idenficaon numbers and unique lender names, along with feedback from
reporng lenders
HUD Regions and Corresponding States/Territories
Region 1 - New England Region 3 - Mid-Atlanc Region 5 - Midwest Region 7 - Great Plains Region 9 - Pacific/Hawaii
Conneccut Delaware Illinois Iowa Arizona
Maine District of Columbia Indiana Kansas California
Massachuses Maryland Michigan Missouri Federated States of Micronesia
New Hampshire Pennsylvania Minnesota Nebraska Hawaii
Rhode Island Virginia Ohio Nevada
Vermont West Virginia Wisconsin Region 8 - Rocky Mountain
Colorado Region 10 - Northwest/Alaska
Region 2 - New York/New Jersey Region 4 - Southeast/Caribbean Region 6 - Southwest Montana Alaska
New York Alabama Arkansas North Dakota Idaho
New Jersey Florida Louisiana South Dakota Oregon
Georgia New Mexico Utah Washington
Kentucky Oklahoma Wyoming
Mississippi Texas
North Carolina
Puerto Rico
South Carolina
Tennessee
U.S. Virgin Islands
*CJTBMTPQSPWJEFT
Like what you have read? *ěĢĬ3."
Share your thoughts with the editor! "DPNQMFUFDPVOTFMJOHQBDLBHFGPS
)6%"QQSPWFESFWFSTFDPVOTFMPST
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email us at editors@reversereview.com
Turnabout is fair play! Rate spreads Expected Rate of 5.56% or less pays the maximum benefit
have changed materially since our available from a HECM. With today’s rates, June 10th in the
arcle in the May 2008 issue of The table above, we see that a LIBOR HECM could have a margin
Reverse Review (see The Reverse Review up to 90 bp since the 10-year Swap rate is 4.66% -- a Treasury
Website). Last month we said that a HECM could have a margin up to 1.58% -- both products
LIBOR HECM could give an extra $80 in would then meet the 5.56% floor.
inial benefits, but its inial Note Rate
would be 0.676% higher, if that spread “... not sure that borrowers will be worse off with
held the borrower would owe an extra LIBOR. Of the two interest rate series, I think the
$26,454 in ten years. We also pointed out that historically
things were out of synch -- the one-month LIBOR has been CMT is ... subject to US monetary policy swings …
only 0.13% higher than the one-year Constant Maturity Chinese willingness to buy US Treasuries … while
Treasury (CMT) rate. the LIBOR is more ed into the global economy.”
A lot has changed in the past month. Table 1 below Here’s the Turnabout?
shows various reverse mortgage indexes now and then. Note
that the short-term Treasury indexes have gone up and the Table 2 compares the LIBOR and CMT HECM. Wells Fargo
short-term LIBOR indexes have gone down. is the largest originator of reverse mortgages and now uses a
margin of 1.50% on the monthly-adjusng Treasury HECM.
Our prior arcles explained how a 5.56% floor was used
with 10-year rates when looking up HECM principal limit Using a 90 bp LIBOR margin (the highest that will sll
factors (LTV factors to you forward mortgage folks). An allow) the Expected Rate to round to 5.50%, we see that
Table 1
Index Source 6/10/08 4/28/08 Change Use
Table 2
LIBOR HECM CMT HECM
Short-term Index 2.449% 2.14%
Investor Margin 0.900% 1.50%
Inial Note Rate 3.349% 3.64%
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“Forward Thinking in Reverse”
For many involved in reverse servicing set-aside to pay for the monthly servicing fee
mortgage lending, one of the most 3. When the servicing set-aside funds withheld run out,
difficult concepts to master and to then the borrower has to repay the reverse mortgage
explain is the calculaon of the loan loan
servicing set-aside fee. As part two of 4. The total amount of the servicing set-aside is incurring
this two-part series on reverse mortgage interest charges
servicing, we will try to explain what 5. The borrower does receive a refund of the servicing set-
the servicing set-aside is and how this aside fee if they move out before the servicing set-aside
concept (and perceived cost) should be is fully disbursed
explained to a borrower. 6. The borrower does not receive a refund of the servicing
set-aside fee if they move out before the servicing set-
The servicing set-aside fee is disclosed on the reverse aside is fully disbursed
mortgage summary calculaon that is typically provided
With this variety of misinterpretaons, let’s try to
to reverse mortgage borrowers. This summary generally
describe exactly what the servicing set-aside is. HUD
conveys the available loan proceeds to a borrower, under
Handbook 4235.1 Rev. 1, Appendix 7 describes the servicing
comparave reverse mortgage scenarios. The servicing
set-aside as:
set-aside is a lump sum item listed separately and is oen
perceived as a closing cost or charge to the borrower.
2.3.4. {The} Lender shall inially set aside from the
Fortunately this large dollar amount is not a closing cost paid
Principal Limit the amount indicated on the aached
by the borrower. Unfortunately, the originator will need to
payment plan (Exhibit 1) to be applied to payment
explain what the servicing set-aside is and why it is not a
due for a fixed monthly charge for servicing acvies
closing cost. By the way, you will probably have this exact
of Lender or its servicer. Such servicing acvies are
discussion with just about every reverse mortgage borrower
necessary to protect Lender’s interest in the Property.
you work with!
A servicing fee set aside, if any, is not available to is not due a refund of this excess amount. The excess
the Borrower for any purpose, except to pay for loan amount was le as addional equity in the home and sll
servicing. remains as equity.
This definion references that the “…servicing fee set-aside, Sounds easy enough to explain to a reverse mortgage
if any, is not available to the borrower for any purpose, borrower, doesn’t it? The reality of the servicing set-aside
except to pay for loan servicing.” In pracce, the monthly is that it is just part of the calculaon or algorithm used to
servicing fee is not being withdrawn from the amount determine the borrower’s ulmate access to proceeds. But
inially set-aside. Instead, the borrower has a monthly unlike other parts of the algorithm the servicing set-aside
service charge added to their outstanding balance each is disclosed and appears to be a sizable, up-front cost or
month for the cost of servicing. Monthly servicing fees expense.
typically range between $20 and $35 depending on the loan
In the interest of full and complete
and lender selected. The servicing set- “The more informaon a potenal
disclosure to potenal borrowers, the
aside effecvely creates an addional
equity reserve in the property that borrower can have about the concept of disclosing the servicing
is available to address the ongoing components of a loan transacon set-aside makes sense. The more
informaon a potenal borrower can
incursion of the monthly servicing fee. being contemplated, the beer a
have about the components of a loan
The HUD Handbook 4235.1 Rev. 1, decision that borrower can make.” transacon being contemplated, the
Secon 5.7 goes on to describe how beer a decision that borrower can
the servicing set-aside fee should be calculated as: make. But if that reasoning was the raonale for disclosing
A set-aside for monthly servicing fees is calculated by this part of the qualificaon equaon, then shouldn’t we
determining a fixed monthly fee, and then disclose the rest of the reverse mortgage algorithm? To
determining the present value of that fee using the provide the balance of the algorithm, you would need to
term used for a tenure payment plan (i.e. to the print and provide the contents of HUD Handbook 4235.1 Rev.
borrower’s 100th birthday) and the compounding 1 to your borrowers.
rate defined below in 5-8B.2. Example: The present
Irrespecve of the logic (or lack thereof) of disclosing
value of a fixed monthly servicing fee of $25, given
the servicing set-aside to potenal borrowers, and you are
a term of 300 months and a compounding rate
faced with the challenge of doing it. Make sure you have a
of .0825 divided by 12 is $3,192.58. This amount
good understanding of what the servicing set-aside is and
should be subtracted from the principal limit to
how it is calculated. Then you should have a good chance of
arrive at the net principal limit that is used for
providing a clear explanaon for your borrowers.
determining monthly payments or a line of credit.
About David Cesario: David Cesario is a naonal speaker
To beer understand how much servicing expense a
and educator on Reverse Mortgage Lending. He serves as
borrower would incur, let’s look at an example. Using the
the Execuve Vice President of 1st Reverse Financial Services,
numbers cited from the HUD Handbook, we will use a $25
LLC, a naonal wholesale reverse mortgage lender, located
monthly servicing fee and a calculated servicing set-aside of
at 410 Quail Ridge Drive in Westmont, Illinois, 60559. The
$3,192.58 for the example. If a borrower obtained a reverse
company’s website is located at www.1stReverse.com where
mortgage loan with this set of factors and the borrower
informaon can be found about 1st Reverse’s wholesale
moved out of the home at the end of 2 years, let’s calculate
lending programs and opons for lenders interested in
what the servicing charges would be in this example.
offering reverse mortgage loans.
Monthly Servicing Fee: $ 25.00
Length of Loan x 24 months
Total Servicing Expense Paid $ 600.00
REVERSE
MORTGAGES
A GROWTH OPPORTUNITY WORTH INVESTIGATING
Over the last 20 years, 345,000 reverse mortgages have been originated. Last year, originations hit a
new high: $20 billion. As the US population ages, the market has responded with new and innovative
products and services geared towards keeping seniors in their homes for longer periods of time.
National lenders in need of market diversification have migrated to reverse mortgages in an attempt to
make up for lost business in other markets.
Recently Michael Fosser, senior vice president of First American eAppraiseIT, offered his perspective on
this market and the opportunities and challenges that it presents to lenders.
Why are so many lenders including reverse mortgages in their product mix?
Today many market segments continue to be depressed and markets like sub prime and Alt-A are almost
nonexistent. Reverse mortgages tend to be more “need driven” and less tied to market conditions. In the
US today, more than 38 million eligible reverse mortgage customers own their homes outright. That’s $4
trillion in untapped equity. This offers a great opportunity for lenders to grow their portfolio of business in
a market that is less sensitive to fluctuations in the real estate market.
Are some appraisers more qualified than others to service this market?
Over 90% of today’s reverse mortgage originations are insured by FHA. Not every appraiser or appraisal
management company is qualified to complete these assignments. At eAppraiseIT we have a nationwide
network of more than 8,000 appraisers who are FHA certified – one of the largest panels of FHA appraisers
available in the industry today. To ensure a successful reverse mortgage offering, lenders need to work with
an appraisal management company that can provide national coverage and still maintain reasonable turn
times. In our case, that is five to seven days.
Contact
Michael Fosser
800.281.6200
www.firstam.com
Why Internet Markeng?
by Gretchen Williams
Internet search leads are unique.
Unlike other forms of adversing
(television, cold-calling, direct mail,
radio, etc), Internet search is the
only form of adversing where the
consumer is not experiencing an
interrupon into their everyday lives.
Instead consumers are truly iniang
a request to find out more informaon
about your product and/or offering.
yourself more visible to them? Online search consumers are Website Design Tips/Recommendaons
not making contact from an unsolicited offer they received
because they were cold-called and coached by a call center Before you can parcipate in the world of search
rep. The process of researching informaon online is markeng and Internet lead generaon you need to first
iniated by the consumer’s interest in your product. Online lay a foundaon; create a place online where consumers
users conduct a search, si through the results and then can gather to obtain the informaon they need to make
review the website that they believe will provide them with an informed decision. I am, of course, talking about your
the most accurate informaon for the product they are website. There are many things that you need to consider
researching. When these consumers reach this website they when designing a website, especially as it relates to the
are more comfortable subming their contact informaon. senior demographic. Here is a checklist to get you started:
Internet markeng delivers qualified consumers that have a
user iniated interest in your product. Informaon-rich content
Easy to use navigaon
But how does the Internet relate to the senior Font size and color – in this case, you want a larger font
demographic? Are seniors really online? The answer is yes. and dark text on a light background
Seniors are one of the fastest growing online demographics Include a call-to-acon. A call-to-acon is an implicit or
and online seniors can oen be one of your most educated explicit suggeson that directs customers and prospects
and savvy clients. Online markeng also provides you an to act in some manner, such as calling a toll-free phone
opportunity to speak to third-party decision makers early number to request more informaon.
on in the process. Many mes these are the individuals Easy to access contact form
who pose obstacles by refusing you access to them. By Visible phone number on every page
speaking to these third-pares, such as adult children, and
others requesng the informaon on behalf of the senior, Establishing a Goal and Markeng Strategy
you have the opportunity to dispel any misconcepons from
the onset and ensure proper educaon. Even beer, having Once you have created your website you are now ready
their support can oen facilitate the process of closing to ‘open your doors’ for business and receive traffic. Your
more deals, especially over the phone and through the mail. involvement in search markeng will have a direct effect on
Overall, search markeng will allow you the opportunity to your website’s traffic, so it is essenal that you establish a
speak to borrowers at all stages of the process, building your strategy early on. One of the most important aspects of any
pipeline and providing you with a steady stream of leads. good strategy is establishing an end goal and ensuring that
You can now close your hot leads while incubang your all steps throughout keep that goal in mind. Your website
warms ones, finally freeing yourself of that vicious sales cycle will most likely have one of two goals: 1) to serve as an
and allowing you to more accurately forecast your sales. informaon portal for your exisng clients, or 2) to generate
addional business that you would not have otherwise had
“Online markeng also provides you an access to offline. Your search markeng strategy will be
opportunity to speak to third-party decision different depending on your end goal.
makers early on in the process. Many mes If your goal is to solely provide informaon for exisng
these are the individuals who pose obstacles by clientele, and any business they may refer, then your
refusing you access to them.” primary focus should be on those tools and resources that
Perhaps the most important thing to be aware of is the they require. Although, this content is relevant for any
cost. Search markeng can be very expensive, especially informaon-rich site (regardless of its end goal) you will want
if it is unfamiliar territory. It does require a certain level of to be sure that your site includes things like: a step by step
knowledge and skill in order to be effecve, and the tesng process from applicaon to close of loan, relevant news and
that is essenal for success is very me consuming. This changes to programs, payment schedules, etc.
arcle is aimed at providing you with some basic knowledge
If your ulmate goal is to generate addional business
to get started while also sharing ps for successful lead
then you will need to familiarize yourself with some search
follow up. However, as with all parts of your business, it
markeng terminology. To start there are 2 different types of
is important to recognize your strengths and weaknesses
search markeng that you should consider: sponsored/paid
and outsource when it makes sense. In the end, it is about
and organic.
where your me is best spent and how you can achieve the
lowest lead acquision cost.
»
June 2008 reversereview.com 19
THEREVERSE review
land the consumer on a page to complete an applicaon. If the first call is establish their need. Sure, they want more
you, instead, send this visitor to your website’s homepage informaon about a reverse mortgage, but the real queson
you will only cause frustraon which will, ulmately, result is…why, and for what reason? Find this out and overcoming
in a less than desirable conversion rate. Since you are objecons will be a breeze, without this informaon you
paying for every click through on your ad non-relevance will can only hope to close deals by geng lucky. Once you
significantly increase your cost per conversion. This, coupled recognize their needs, begin addressing them one by one.
with poor budget constraints can drive you out of the search This approach will not only uncover the real reason for their
markeng space very quickly. inquiry but it will also help to you establish a relaonship and
build rapport with the borrower.
This brings us to perhaps the most important component
of any paid search campaign, Tracking, Tesng and “In order to have an effecve campaign there
Revising. Reworking landing pages is one of the simplest needs to be a common thread connecng the
and most effecve ways to increase your conversion rate.
It is imperave that you track your results from campaign consumer’s search, search results (i.e. your ad)
implementaon and then test, revise, and test again. and the landing page.”
Those with the most effecve and efficient campaigns will
constantly be searching for ways to improve results and Follow these keys to success and increase your return on
adapt to the ever-changing consumer and search markeng investment!
space. • Call all prospects ASAP and make sure your website
has an auto responder giving them an alternate way to
Search Engine Opmizaon
contact you.
Search Engine Opmizaon contains two different • Check for misspellings and format errors (i.e. spaces,
elements: on-site and off-site. On-site refers to those missing dots, etc) in email addresses and well as incorrect
elements that make up the site itself. This includes meta area codes in phone numbers before deeming a contact
tags, tle tags, keywords and the site’s overall content. Off- invalid.
site refers to those elements outside the boundaries of your • Reference the web address or other lead source in your
site that can affect your site’s organic performance within introducon and all subsequent communicaons.
the search engines. Examples include: building inbound links • Be persistent, but polite. It is unlikely that you will reach
and site directory submissions. a borrower by phone with only 1-3 call aempts and not
receiving a call back does NOT mean they are no longer
Search engine opmizaon is an enrely different beast interested. Instead, try changing your call me and
all together and to do it properly requires the experse of (if applicable) remove your caller ID block. Only leave
an industry expert. This is definitely one of those situaons messages when you have a reason to do so. For example,
where it makes the most sense to outsource. Be sure to do let them know that you would like to send them more
your due diligence as a consumer and always ask to speak to informaon but first need to confirm their address. If you
references. sll cannot reach them, then send the informaon and
leave a message to let them know it was sent. Your next
Keys for Successful Lead Incubaon aempt can be to confirm receipt while making yourself
Acquiring interested prospects is one thing, but available to answer quesons.
successful follow up that results in closing deals is quite • Establish the borrower’s need/goal in the first call.
another. The first step (as obvious as it may seem) is to pick Ask something like, “What interested you about a
up the phone, and to do so as soon as possible. Borrowers reverse mortgage that prompted your request for more
researching quotes and other reverse mortgage informaon informaon?” Keep the first call under 30 minutes and
commonly submit their informaon to mulple sites. Any ask easy quesons the borrower knows how to answer.
genuinely interested consumer will do their due diligence Above all else, you do not want to overwhelm them.
and this includes making requests with mulple companies, • Include a call-to-acon in all of your communicaons.
whether online, over the phone or both. Therefore, it is not • Avoid asking yes and no quesons, instead direct the
uncommon to hear “I have already spoken to 20 different conversaon with open-ended quesons. For example,
people”. Exaggeraon, or not, the possibility remains that what is the best day for us to meet?
you are not the first (or even the last) person they will speak • Discuss both the posives and negaves of the program
with. The most important thing you can do for yourself in to create a balanced view – this will build trust.
Creang a Strategy and Schedule for Follow Up 90% of our Customers Reorder...
When creang your schedule for follow up you need Reverse Mortgage Direct Mail Specialist
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s EMAIL TRAAM AOLCOM
www.smart - - marketing.com
set automac reminders for periodic phone calls, as well
as to send emails and/or leers ensuring you remain in ...exclusive, targeted, motivated
contact with your leads over a longer period of me. When
building out a schedule it is important that you vary your
Markeng or a lead aggregator in the reverse mortgage
message topics, this is especially important where educaon
space. At the very least, you should now have enough
is involved. Examples of markeng materials include:
knowledge to engage with and choose a markeng partner
newsworthy arcles, situaon-specific leers, ‘Top 10’ lists
that is right for you.
(i.e. Top 10 Things to Know Before Geng a Reverse), holiday
and other friendly reminders to name a few. Lead follow up
About Gretchen Williams: Gretchen Williams is the Director
is nothing more than providing interested consumers with
of Sales for Reverse Mortgage Directory,
relevant informaon on a consistent basis.
LLC and focuses on advising industry
“Any genuinely interested consumer will do their professionals on Internet markeng
strategy and successful lead incubaon.
due diligence and this includes making requests Every month RMD provides thousands
with mulple companies, whether online, over of guaranteed reverse mortgage leads
the phone or both.” to hundreds of Lenders across the
United States through its consumer
You should now have the basic tools to establish a site, ReverseMortgageAdviser.com. The
successful Search Markeng strategy of your own. Know site also offers consumer access to its Naonal Lender
your strengths and those elements that you can control and Directory. For more informaon, call (888) 412-5557, email
exploit them. For most, your me is going to be best spent gretchen@reversemortgageadviser.com or visit www.
creang and tweaking your lead incubaon process. Try ReverseMortgageAdviser.com.
different strategies and schedules unl you find the one that
best compliments your unique selling style. In regards to
your search markeng campaign itself, this will most likely
be outsourced, either to an agency specializing in Search
This is for mortgage professional use only, not for distribution to the general public.
THEREVERSE review
Formula:
Markeng Cost Per Funded Loan = [Media Cost (TV,
radio, print ad, direct mail cost) + Collateral Cost
(creang the commercial or mailer) + Markeng
Department Overhead (staff, consultants, etc.)] / Funded
Loans (fundings from leads generated in campaign) Complete integration from origination to
processing, underwriting, closing, and
Who’s Listening? shipping.
The first step in ensuring an opmal MCFL is focusing Highly scalable - for small entities to enter-
efforts on response rates and the percentage of responders prises with correspondents and branches.
broadly qualified for a reverse mortgage. Regardless of
media channel (direct mail, TV, radio, etc.), the first measure Sales oriented graphical interface that
of a campaign’s success is the number of leads it generates. integrates directly with Microsoft Word and
Outlook.
In direct mail this can be understood as a percentage of
mailings generang a response, while with other channels it Direct export to Celink, RMS, Fannie Mae,
might simply be a raw count of responses. Either way, the UBS, Goldman Sachs, ReverseDocuments
important focus is to understand how many leads are being and others.
generated and then how many of them are broadly qualified
(age, homeowner, etc.). This is the first step in a successful
markeng campaign analysis – now you’re ready to turn your ReverseVision Inc.
newfound audience into customers of your firm. 3310 Pollock Place • Raleigh, NC 27607
www.reversevision.com
ReverseVision Inc.
3310 Pollock Place • Raleigh, NC 27607
www.reversevision.com
(919) 834 0070 • info@reversevision.com
These seven “principles” affecng In numerous research studies over the last two decades,
sales producvity have been psychologists studying successful sales behaviors have
condensed from global survey results learned that skills and knowledge are the easier elements
on salespeople across a variety of to idenfy and develop. Though essenal for peak
industries and cultures. Regardless of performance, they are by themselves not sufficient for
what business or environment one is breakthrough results. Skills and knowledge are the “p of
in, the applicability of these ideas are the iceberg” so to speak. The unseen structure below the
universal. waterline is more difficult to idenfy and develop. They are:
(a) self-image, (b) traits, and (c) moves. These “submerged”
1. New prospects are the lifeblood of a business. aributes are actually the underlying characteriscs that
lead to longer-term success.
2. Selling is a “Numbers Game.” The more you contact, the
more you close.
Prospecng is the most important behavioral
variable that affects success in sales. However,
3. Without new prospects, all presenng and closing skills prospecng is not about the “how to”.
are worthless. ...Prospecng is 80% movaon and 20% skill.
4. Geng sales people to prospect, rather than showing Converng (i.e., presenng and closing) is 80%
them how to prospect, is sales management’s greatest skill and 20% movaon.
challenge.
In our consulng and sales coaching pracce, we
5. Eighty percent of new sales people, who terminate in Year generally acknowledge two key (interrelated) modes that
1, do so due to lack of prospecng acvity. govern sales success. The first variable is simply a person’s
“internal wiring.” This is the “Strengths Profile” that
6. Forty percent of veteran sales people experience one characterizes how a person acts within a work/professional
or more episodes of Call Reluctance severe enough to context. The second centers on prospecng behavior,
threaten their sales careers. which is equally idenfiable and measurable. Prospecng
reluctance can be reduced to three components: thoughts,
7. Assessment of exisng willingness or reluctance feelings, and acons. Acons are generally accompanied
to prospect is the starng point in improving sales by thoughts and feelings, which are in turn learned and/or
producvity. genecally predisposed. For the most part, call reluctance
usually involves learned negave emoons like fear. The
Aside from the issue of “fit” -- which has to do with good news is that it can also be unlearned and corrected --
whether or not a person is suited for a sales career in the some types easier than others to “cure.”
first place -- prospecng is the most important behavioral
variable that affects success in sales. However, prospecng is These two “bookend” modes, Strengths and Sales Call
not about the “how to.” My own experience in working with Reluctance, provide a framework (i.e., the chassis) for
hundreds of successful and not-so-successful producers boils selecng, developing and training sustainable and successful
down to this simple truth: Prospecng is 80% movaon and sales performance.
20% skill. Converng (i.e., presenng and closing) is 80% skill
and 20% movaon. Conscious or unconscious resistance to What are the roots of “sub-opmal prospecng” aka Sales
prospecng for new business is a complex behavior that has Call Reluctance?
many underlying roots.
June 2008
» reversereview.com 29
THEREVERSE review
I would like to take you back in home ownership, many would have never saved enough
me. Close your eyes and imagine money nor accumulated a nest egg for their rerement
being born in 1928. You have lived or shor all they are experiencing now because of out of
your life and experienced World Wars, control rising gas, food and healthcare costs. Many matures
the Great Depression, new polical are now beginning to consider their home as a financial tool,
changes, turmoil, healthcare, advent of rather than the Archie Bunker days of mortgage burning and
welfare, social security, the Charleston, leaving everything to the heirs.
Chubby Checker, Elvis and now weather
paerns that change like the wind. This May, consumer confidence hit a 28-year low. Many
seniors are starng to take note of the different financial
Now imagine, it is the year 2008. You have just turned soluons to make up for the shor all they are experiencing.
80 years old. Looking back, you could never imagine having There are several products on the market that address the
lived to such a ripe old age. It is now me to sit back, relax, “unlocked” asset value. One product ulized by matures is
and not have to worry about all that other stuff. Let the a reverse mortgage and interesngly 74% of boomers are
youth of the world handle all the trivia. It is me to enjoy aware of a reverse mortgage.
your golden years.
As a reverse mortgage loan officer, manager, or key
It is difficult not to imagine why our seniors are cynical execuve, it is me for you to reconsider how to market
and scared about their everyday lives and their financial to your seniors. Keep in mind, we are not in the reverse
futures when you consider that in 1928 the cost of gasoline mortgage business, we are in the markeng business. Your
was probably no more than 10 cents (including taxes). Even job is to get the phone ringing. You need to talk to your
in 1970, my first business was a gas staon and the cost senior clients before you can reach out and help them.
of gasoline was 28.9 cents per gallon. My customers were Being in the reverse mortgage business is a privilege. You
complaining when it went to 30 cents. So, imagine the awe have the ability to dramacally impact lives.
and fear of our seniors paying $4 + for a gallon of gas.
Cost Effecve Markeng Strategies
Milk used to be delivered to our doorstep every morning.
I used to love to be the first one to bring the glass bole You too may be experiencing a ght budget. But now is
product in the house and I even cheated by chugging down not the me to cut back on your markeng. Cung back
the cream that rose to the top. Here is the kicker, the milk and reducing budgets is one of the biggest mistakes made in
that was delivered was only 39 cents per gallon. Now all businesses. Now is the me to increase your markeng
consider milk is at or near $4.00 per gallon. So much for a acvies, however; with budgets incredibly ght, spending,
quick bowl of cereal in the morning. more money (or even the same amount as you used to) on
markeng is probably making you think twice about how you
“In 1928 the cost of gasoline was probably no spend your hard earned dollars.
more than 10 cents. Even in 1970 ... the cost of
gasoline was 28.9 cents per gallon.” I hope some of the following strategies will help you in
your decision making process and boost your lead generaon
Here is the GOOD NEWS! Eighty-five per cent of boomers and originaons.
born aer 1946 own their homes. The American dream
was founded and built around home ownership. Thank
goodness, home ownership is one of the best possible
investments that most Americans could make. If not for
»
June 2008 reversereview.com 31
THEREVERSE review
Monte Rose
America’s Recommended Mailers, Inc.
17100 Gillee Ave
1680 S. Hwy 121, Bldg. B
Irvine, CA 92614 Gretchen Williams
Lewisville, TX 75067
(800) 516 - 0545 Reverse Mortgage Directory, LLC
(800) 992 - 2722
monterose.biz reversemortgageadviser.com
armleads.com
info@monterose.biz gretchen@reversemortgageadviser.com
(888) 412-5557
Valerie VanBooven
Next Generaon Financial Services Smart Markeng
Reverse Mortgage Naon 6722 Vista del Mar
Celink
3301 Boston Street Suite A
Reverse Mortgage Servicer
Balmore, MD 21224 San Diego, CA 92037
3900 Capital City Blvd
(888) 973 - 8377 (888) 811 - 0208
Lansing, MI 48906
ngfs.net smart--markeng.com
www.celink.com
traam@aol.com
David Bancro
Omni Home Financing, Inc. Tradion Title Agency
FirstAmerican/eAppraiseIT
901 Calle Amanecer 1991 Union Boulevard
5 Cherry Hill Dr
Suite 150 Suite C
Suite 200
San Clemente, CA 92763 Bay Shore, NY 11706
Danvers, MA 01923
(949) 276 - 2300 (631) 328 - 4410
eappraiseit.com
(800) 281 - 6200 tradionta.com
info@tradionta.com
OnTheLevel
Jerry Wagner
2982 Ora Avo Terrace
Ibis Capital, LLC
Vista, CA 92084
2101 Pacific Avenue
(800) 909 - 1110 Daniel Duplans and Barbara Santner
PH 701
onthelevel@mac.com USAUnderwriters
San Francisco, CA 94115
(800) 566 - 5077 605 SW First Avenue
reversemortgagehomepage.com Ocala, FL 34471
info@ibisrmo.com (352) 482 - 1097
americasunderwriter.com
Scent of an Industry
by David Bancro
Partner with the leading Reverse Mortgage wholesale lender and watch your business grow.
But don’t just take our word for it. Come and see for yourself.