mikem

I wanted to post this yesterday but didn’t want it to be categorized an April Fools post.

Why? Because I’m serious.

Has “Transparency” become just another marketing buzzword much like the “Green” movement?
I’m Green as they come.
I recycle everything, fluoresce everything, and run almost paperless.
I ride a bike that averages around 40 MPG. I choose to work close to home.
Oh, and I have a compost pile in the garden.

I’m “Transparent” too.
Each and every client that comes into my office hears the same speech. This is what I do, and this is how I get paid. Yes, we even cover YSP. I’m all for honesty, it’s just how I have to operate. Always have.

But “Transparency” isn’t a two way street.
My “Transparency” has nothing to do with the “Transparency” of the client across the desk.
My “Transparency” doesn’t change the “Transparency” of the loan officer down the street or at the big bank.
In fact, I think my “Transparency” really helps one person in this world, me!

That client isn’t going to return the “Transparent” favor and let me know he shopping the internet for rates is he?
The Loan Officer next door that’s competing for the same loan has never been “Transparent” in his life. Is he going to start now?
True “Transparency” doesn’t exist.

I watched a great discussion on YSP the other day thanks to Todd’s post on YSP. You could argue that Todd was coming from a “Transparent” point of view. Not to pick on anyone who commented but so many of them were less than “Transparent”.

When I started a new company, I put our pricing right out there for everyone to see. I wanted to be “Transparent”. Almost none of our competitors are.
What I didn’t put out there was how we do what we do.
Our little business secrets that makes us stand out from our competition.
In this way I am about as “Transparent” as a mud filled coke bottle.

There’s a little conversation over at agentgenius that grabbed a lively conversation. Was it “Transparent”?
Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and even Twitter.
Is the reason you’re on a particular Social Network “Transparent”? Really?

For that matter, is this post “Transparent”? It’s not.

As my friend, Kermit laments that it’s not easy being green, I’ll go on record saying that it’s not easy being “Transparent”.

Maybe I’ll just settle for semi-opaque.

Heavy conversations have been dominating my RSS this week about YSP (It’s a great post and what great commentary as well!). 

But it’s Friday, and I need to go into the weekend with a mental break.

So I thought I’d toss a little poetry your way.  Specifically, Mortgage Haiku

What is a Haiku you ask?

The traditional Japanese Haiku format follows the syllable pattern of 5 - 7 - 5.  The writer might bring in a word or concept (kiga) that evokes memories of a particular season. 
The last line is usually in sharp contrast (caesura) to the body of the poem.

Here’s a timely example:

Regulate them all,
Mortgage Brokers under fire,
But I’m a Good Guy!

That fits right into the YSP conversation doesn’t it?

I chose to backdrop each poem with a traditional Japanese watercolor or photograph.  Some in contrast, others not. To the Haiku purist the following might not be proper in the strict sense.  Your latitude is appreciated.

Click on the thumbnails below to view the poem. 

Why 17?  It is the total number of syllables in a Haiku, no other reason.
Why separate them?  Each one should be read and engaged individually.
 

Outside Links: 

• “Succinct and serene, it’s home loan haiku“, San Jose Mercury News
• “Mortgage Haiku?“, Redfin Blog

I’ve been on LinkedIn for a while but never really attempted to use it anywhere near it’s full potential. I had a profile, and that was about it.

Todd started me thinking the other day when he launched his Lenderama group in Linkedin. I joined right away (I think I was the third to join). Then I sat back and wondered “Now What?” Now that we have a group, what are we going to do with it.

The truth is, nobody really knows.

Todd will decide what he wants to do with his LinkedIn group as he sees fit.
I had an idea though. It stems from my other blog, The Foreclosure Report…

You see, when someone (typically a homeowner) has a question, problem or issue that deals with their fighting foreclosure, they call me or email me. My contact information is right at the top of every page. I might get 4 or 5 calls a day. They call because I make it easy to contact me.

Back to the Lenderama LinkedIn Group. Personally I know how I am going to use Todd’s group. Can you see needing help with a mortgage situation and having 67+ other mortgage professionals just a simple click away? I can.

Need an important question answered? LinkedIn!

“Hey Robert Ashby, does the 10 year bond reflect mortgage rates?”
“Hey Diane Cipa, do I really need Title Insurance?”

With Linkedin, Robert and Diane are only a click away!
To join the Lenderama LinkedIn Borg all you have to do is click here: LINK

Obviously, it wouldn’t be possible to have homeowners in trouble join LinkedIn just to get an answer but I have the next best idea. Why not use LinkedIn Groups to better connect with the Agents who are helping these people.

I created a LinkedIn group just for them: The Short Sale Support Group

No, really.
If you are an Agent working on a short sale and need help closing the deal (and I know there are plenty of you out there) you are no longer all alone!

http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/76810/725700607CB9

Anyone is welcome to join. Got Questions? Get Answers!

Make that 2 Hours and 7 minutes to be exact.

On Tuesday, the Feds announced they were dropping by 75 basis points. I watched it live on CNBC at 11:15 pacific time.

At 11:18 (just minutes later) the Feds sent me an email giving me a link to their FOMC Statement.

A full 2 hours and 7 minutes later I get an email that was obviously written ahead of time expecting a full 1% rate cut. Being prepared is great. I’m all for it. Just make sure you are also prepared to adapt quickly should you be wrong.

Making a mistake is ok. We all make mistakes. Sending another incorrect email out 3 Hours and 16 minutes later? Gus, you still haven’t heard the news?

Gus, must be some kind of knucklehead. Actually I know exactly what kind of knucklehead Gus is. He’s a spammer.

Better than that - Gus wants me to send him money. You see, Gus is into email marketing.

And yes, the email at the bottom was different than the above. Just more professionalism at work. He sent the spam from an offshoot of BNI, networkingnow.com. I like the idea of BNI - can’t say I like the idea of being spammed.

Gus, let me ask you one simple question.

If you can’t handle your own simple email spam - how are you going to handle mine?

PS: Gus, you are right. I guess Email marketing works. I read yours (twice) didn’t I?